For a few days, fans of Fantasy Boys Sound the alarm. In question: a recently broadcast of a live sequence, in which several members seem to send a recognized international distress signal.
In this clip that has become viral, Minseo addresses a disturbing gesture to the camera: open palm, folded thumb, then fingers closed on it. This sign, implemented during the pandemic to allow victims of domestic violence to discreetly ask for videoconferencing aid, is interpreted here as a call for silent aid.
This is not the first time that this gesture has been observed. Still in the same live, Minseo would have done it twice, while Hanbin reproduced it during the final pose (ending fairy) a musical program.
The concerns intensified after several messages, shared by members on discussion platforms with fans, spoke of very trying working conditions. Hanbin, for example, appeared on stage the day after the death of his grandfather, after only three days of mourning. For their part, Sungmin and Minseo wrote messages expressing their discomfort and their fatigue.
“Even today, it was hard … I just returned. Frankly, it didn’t stop since this morning,” Sungmin said. Minseo, meanwhile, wrote: “I just finished the work. It’s not easy … At the start I just wanted to say that I was going well. But in real life, I think I’m not doing well. It’s a little too much at the moment.”
The absence of Kaeden, on the other hand, was only revealed by another member and by brands selling event albums. Others have been forced to perform despite health concerns. Faced with the wave of concern, the hashtags alerting to the situation flourished on the networks, even affecting people outside the group’s fandom.
Trained via the Survival Show of the same name, Fantasy Boys started in 2023 under the PocketDol Studio label. In a second step, after the arrow of concerns on social networks, Minseo and Hanbin spoke on Bubble, the communication application with fans.
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Minseo apologized, saying he was “Extremely exhausted” during the live and that his gesture had “No particular meaning”. He explained that the reactions had scared him and that he did not expect such an outburst.
“I’m recovering, so don’t worry too much. I’m really sorry to have caused so much worries. That day, I was at the end, physically and mentally. I never wanted to create misunderstandings, but things have taken an unexpected scale.” he wrote.
Hanbin, for his part, tried to reassure by explaining that he was going “Alright”. He described the incident during theending fairy of a simple clumsy gesture taken out of context.
“I know that you are very worried about me, but everything is fine !!! I heard that we were talking about the end installation in the show, but it was not at all what you think. I was just caught, I was a little panicked, and I made a weird gesture,” he said.
Despite these explanations, many fans remain skeptical. Some believe that the two members have been forced by their agency to publish these messages to calm the controversy. Others note that Minseo has never explicitly mentioned the gesture in question in his apologies, which more fueling suspicions.
To date, Pocketdol Studio has not published any official statement to meet these accusations.
Do you think the members of Fantasy Boys could be forced to minimize the situation?
