Idol Culture in East Asia Has a Stalking Problem

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Article Referenced:
www.asiaone.com/entertainment...
aramajapan.com/news/hihi-jets...
Today we’re talking about sasaeng fans and how celebrity worship syndrome is causing overly obsessive behaviour in todays fangirl/fanboy. The catalyst for this video came from the Kpop side of Twitter. Where a fan was able to enter a Kpop boy group’s hotel room without their knowledge and then proceed to post about her room tour online. NCT’s management company SM decided to take action and investigate this situation which made my nosy self look deeper into why parasocial relationships within fandoms are getting out of control. I also talk about the situation with Japan’s HiHiJets and how one of their super fans got plastic surgery to get their attention. Social media has created a generation of chronically online fans with delusional mindsets. Idol Culture in East Asia Has a Stalking Problem #edvasian

[@soyjoyy]

K-pop companies present their idols as sexy and attractive, yet single, innocent and completely uncorrupted by the touch of someone else. You cannot deny it's also part of the problem. The constant fan service aka "I will do anything for my fans", "You the only ones I love" and "I'm already married to you", is only adding fuel to the parasocial fire that K-pop is.

[@Miaeka]

PERIODT

[@MsElizaRae]

Thousand and one percent

[@telepathicmagicshop]

This is what they did to Britney Spears.

[@anisatajy9445]

They feed into the delusions of crazy people.

[@InvisibleRen]

Exactly. The industry itself enables and encourages the sasaengs. Until that changes, the craziness will continue.

[@theEumenides]

On the American side of things, Chris Evans got married this week and a bunch of his fans lost their ever-loving minds because he "betrayed" them. These people need help.

[@moonchild07613]

Dafuq where they expecting? Those ,,fans" are thousands, millions. Do they think they could for real date him or get him? It's sick

[@theEumenides]

Exactly. The ONLY reason they don't have a chance now is because he's married. He owed it to them to be single...until he met and fell in love with them of course. 🙄

[@pauletteokafor1322]

Some fans are certifiably insane.

[@MsElizaRae]

That's weird because celebrities dating/married is expect and even encouraged over here 😂..🤨

[@morbidhime]

a true and healthy fan would be happy for him and congratulate the guy 😔😔

[@gossameryouth]

I think there’s probably a connection between the term ‘idol’ and how distancing the language is from ‘human’. A lot of these people are packaged as products to be sold, not human beings, which breeds entitlement among fans. They want people to spend money, but the fans feel like they deserve the idols in return. Just my freezing cold take

[@goldenhourss]

very true. just taking a look at how idols can’t date without receiving so muck backlash, death threats exc because “you are mine i bought everything u sold and i have the right to marry you” hell no

[@bmona7550]

I honestly wish they call them singers, artists or dancers instead of idols because it’s scary how much crazy fans idolize otherwise people who just happened to sign up to an agency that train them like products. Idol sounds like a disservice to their talents and makes them less human..

[@edayavuz1667]

They don't just look like products they are. I heard in Japan you can buy yourself a boy when you buy a drink at some places. How much are you willing to bet that the boys from NCT also have a price? SM sees them as nothing but a product to sell to impressionable and lonely people

[@NurmaBP]

Yes, at first I'm so confuse why are these fans are so demanding and possessive beyond normal toward these idols. Then I realized, the idol culture was design that way by the idol industry, the main target was the impressionable teenagers and young people, especially teen girls. It's not about sharing culture, good feelings, or unite mankind thru music, but selling products.

[@RoxanneLavender]

That's a big reason why i don't call them 'idols', because they are not 'idols', they are singers, rappers, musicians, dancers, etc. Elsewhere in the world people who do that job are simply called 'artists', which semantically i have an issue with as well because in my head an artist is a person who paints/makes art that goes is a traditional gallery type of thing, but hey-ho, better than 'idol'.

[@DearStephanieX]

The saddest part is when companies prey on (and even cater to) lonely and mentally unstable people…they’re really just asking for the stalking/extreme behavior.

[@RoxanneLavender]

How do they specifically prey on or cater to, specifically lonely and mentally unstable people?

[@GamingBrowni]

@@RoxanneLavender Because only lonely & mentally unstable people would become obsessed with idols/celebrities to the point where they'd stalk them, have actual romantic feelings for them, stream for days without eating/showering properly, and spend ALL their money on merch. And by forcing idols to not date & having them say stuff like "my fans are my girlfriends" etc feeds into these poor people's fantasies.

[@haroldharold9042]

A lot of these people spend alllll their money on idol shit too, and if they’re from a rich family? It makes total sense that companies pander to them

[@arissamazumder]

@@RoxanneLavender bubble + "i love my fans the most" and stuff like that

[@davegsux]

It's not lonely or creepy people's fault just like it's not the rapists fault, they were just provoked by their victims. Yeeeeaaah.

[@captjamestkirk]

The wildest part about the NCT fan's postings was that the videos were taken ten months prior to her posting them, meaning that there's probably a ton of other stuff she's done that she just hasn't posted about. :/ Also regarding obsessive fan behaviours, you reminded me of the time Vixx got kidnapped by the then-president's teenage daaughter while touring in Kazakhstan.

[@aihoshinoirl]

woah, vixx?

[@illuminatedonions366]

I miss vixx (except ravi)😭

[@dotdotdotdotdotdotdottod]

​@@illuminatedonions366why you say except ravi? just because he tried (granted stupidly) to get out of military service? the same military service that abuses its members has a unhealthy hiercy and the men that are forced to serve because itbis manditory half to give up there careers (not just idols everyday people as well) losing potential money and security just because the "war" thats still going on that will never be resolves because china wont let unification happen and america aslo just dosent care to step in either. while in the mean time loaing there carreers and being replaced faster then you think due to koreas fast pace culture and iver education

[@dnwmteddy]

Yeah it's awful because she's been a stalker for the past few years and SM never did anything about it until now :/ Also that Vixx situation is insane.

[@aeong_bread]

I had an online friend who admitted to being a former NCT sasaeng. She stopped which I'm very grateful for, she felt genuine remorse for the members for intruding on their privacy and quit her stalking bs. She was a rare case it seems, a lot of sasaengs don't actually care about the idols they stalk, they just want to tear people down. It's almost like a mental illness, very deranged.

[@umi6233]

What stalkers expect? That idol will walk into his hotel room. See her and immediately fall in love? Like wtf….

[@aurea.]

Actually, that's probably one fantasy the stalkers have, yes.

[@user-sg4ov7ng4h]

reminds me of penpal, i think the stalker took the mc's love interest's phone and so he received "i love you" and all so it fed into the delusion

[@AlexHider]

That attempted stage snatch is literally crazy, he just fucking TOOK her. Jail.

[@TheOriginal_Unaleska]

And the other members (except for one) didn't even react. wtf.

[@ShrooMIR05]

​@@TheOriginal_UnaleskaThey are all shocked, they thought he was a staff of the venue and something had happened.

[@stormyk244]

I do not understand how he even made it onto the stage! These idol companies really need to provide better security for their stars.

[@blueorchid9455]

@@ShrooMIR05 makes sense. The situation seems so far fetched from reality I would also not believe someone is literally trying to kidnapped a friend/corworker of mine in front of THOUSANDS of people, nevermind the fact they have security. Even after it happened It would take me some time to believed what i just witnessed.

[@letsalllovelein]

It's so absurd that it's funny. How did he think he could get away with dragging a celebrity off of a stage in front of so many people??? He thought they were just gonna let him??? What goes through a person's mind😭😭😭

[@O-Demi]

"I thought Chen was kind but he had sex again" AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA I can't take those ppl seriously P.S. Yeah, SM Entertainment's collab with the local and international police authorities to prosecute saseangs is the best type of collab 🙌🏼

[@yokoniyasuwa]

Seriously, I could stop laughing 😂

[@user-sw6uu6ig2p]

@@yokoniyasuwa same

[@user-sg4ov7ng4h]

isn't he the married idol with children lol

[@bbprincess127]

The Nct127 is just crazy. This girl has been stalking them and invading their privacy since 2019 and was wide known in the fandom. She is dangerous after breaking into theirs hotel room she has acess to all their private stuff and food, she could have put thing into the food or place cameras or etc. Hope she gets consequences for her actions

[@TJ-jk4ut]

pretty privilege plays a huge role in her not going to jail.. and her friends need to go to jail as well.

[@akiko7298]

I hope SM is still taking strong legal action even if we aren't hearing anything about it these days cuz like....and there needs to be such action taken so that others don't try to repeat the crime!

[@leonielps1]

Didn't know that fan behavior was that bad until recently when thai actress freen sarocha had a stalker and weird crazy "fans" got mad at her for the things that got leaked about her personal life and made her apologize instead of supporting her and hating the stalker... I was shocked at how ridiculous that whole situation is only for a friend to tell me that this is nothing new

[@Ruriko.Y]

there's always something worse. a few years back a member of a female idol group in Japan was made to apologise to her stalker because she wants to take action. she decided to quit and at her final performance the stalker was there too, sitting in the front row and she was forced to apologise by her agency and admit that she was wrong. for wanting to take action against him!!

[@elizabethgrinningson7730]

​@@Ruriko.Ythis is awful

[@Ethreally_Pretty]

@@Ruriko.Y NO way bruh wtf???????

[@yourer]

LGBTQ "fans" stanning average to less than average gay for pay actors/actresses peddling fanservice for money and fame getting mad that their bias is straight. The logic there is amazing.

[@deureop]

the "I thought Chen was kind but he had sex again" thing wasn't serious it's a meme in Korea. I think it started from a funny comment on an news article announcing the birth of a comedian's second child. now someone makes that joke every time a celebrity has a second child (and it's funny every time tbh.)

[@NejiRaven]

honestly it made me laugh when I saw it but in a 💀 way but with the proper context it's even funnier lmao

[@tdelioncourt1268]

Ah! you didn't include Johnny's death stare when she tried to "talk" to Mark (= scream at him). Having to pretend she isn't here, not allowing themselves to respond must be the worst.

[@WindowtoPoland]

In what clip

[@ArabiaButtkiss-iy5el]

​@@WindowtoPolandi think it's when they were in the snow

[@wqrw1290]

I see smiley. I like.

[@TryinBin8889]

the parasocialism of kpop had a deathly chokehold on me a couple of years ago, and I wouldn't even say I was that addicted to the group or kpop as much as is stereotypically believed to be. I've been listening to kpop since 2016, but I had a random chokehold in 2021. I didn't know the members' birthdays, favourite colours, or anything outside of what they looked like, what their voices sounded like and when their ig page said they were having a comeback soon. Yet still because of my SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES and chronic LONELINESS, which the industry took full advantage of, I was obsessed and felt a 'genuine' connection to the group, and this false connection was the only source of happiness I had in my life. I didn't even recognise my obsession because it wasn't like I was buying albums or streaming the MV on multiple devices on multiple accounts or anything like that. I just loved their music. But I would think about them- or the image of them in my head- and their songs CONSTANTLY. And because I didn't exhibit stereotypical obsessed fan behaviour, I didn't think anything was WRONG with it. But I wasn't interested in dating guys around me because none of them were as good as this idol, I was sad about how that idol would never know who I was, I sometimes amused myself with the thought of changing courses from engineering into acting or another creative field where I might have a slim chance to meet them, I got a massive rush of dopamine when I saw them on screen. And I recognised in real time how terrible these thoughts were, but they made me happy despite how sad they made me. It was a seriously torturous state of mind to be in- and despite acknowleding it, there was no escape. I'm lucky I was able to mellow out of it by dealing with the root problem of my depression and anxiety. It's not healed (and never will be), but instead of slapping a parasocial bandaid on it I was able to face it head on. It's so sick how the industry preys on people like me, who see no way out and offer a false solution. It's dangerous to the idol and it's a never ending thirst for the fan that will never be satisfied, that needs more and more. It's so dangerous and I wish the industry didn't perpetuate it AT ALL.

[@MykkiOnTheCusp]

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I'm glad you managed to get to the root of the issue and return to having a healthy relationship with fandom.

[@gngrbrds]

Well said! Good on you for doing better for yourself

[@cherylmarler1059]

It's fantastic that you reframed your situation and able to deal with what you needed to. Three things: I did the same thing back in my teens, and I realized it was a way to quasi-experience feelings without getting hurt, AND a way to escape the loneliness/boredom. It filled a need at that time in my life, and that's okay. I moved on and launched into "real life". Secondly, we didn't have internet/social media/etc. and that obviously magnifies obsessive behavior to insane proportions, so I wouldn't beat yourself up about it. Thirdly, it's all very simple when you look at everything from a business perspective. They companies are out there to make money, and they'll do it however they want, and they do it well. They play to all of the senses, and it just works, especially on young people (older people too haha). But when I think at the end of the day, this is fun, but it's a moneymaking machine. But hey I'm totally enjoying the music/concerts/culture and feeling bad for the ARTISTS (refuse to use the word idol) while at the same time so excited for them as well. Aka, entertainment, I push a button, they sing/dance, I push a button, they stop. Bottom line, maybe you needed a little escapism but that wasn't solving the bigger issue(s). You'll be just fine!! I am not anything licensed, just all opinion and experience... :)

[@danielevans1734]

I relate to this a lot and I think a lot of us felt this through the covid. I think lockdown really made ppl obsess over this perfect image individual's who we had instant access to content for while the world was so physically disconnected at the time

[@Iris-uj5sv]

i can related to this a lot. relaying my happiness on a specific group i stanned is just sad the later i realized, the Korean beauty and body image destroyed me in real life, it constantly me feel so bad about myself, being a kpop stan is just toxic. i am slowly getting out of it and now i just try to be a casual listener to the music.

[@evelina7794]

"Celebrity worshipping disorder" Now I know what was wrong with my school bestie. She was obsessed with 1D and told me stories about their connection, secret friendship, and hiden messages about her in their media and songs. She even showed me their chats, that she probably made herself. One day we went to the cinema, and she told me that I shouldn't care about money bc Liam already payed for our tickets (We live in Ukraine btw) Now it sounds even more horrible, when I know.

[@nyamheria]

how is she now

[@markus7240]

It's probably schizophrenia...

[@wqrw1290]

@@nyamheriawhat he said

[@AzraelSeraphino]

What if Liam did pay for her tickets in Ukraine

[@Cationna]

To be honest, I don't even understand the idea of a fan video call - like i get a fanmeeting, you go to get your album signed, getting autographs is not a new thing, and that way you get to see the artist irl and thank them while they're writing, fair enough. But a fanmeeting online where they're just supposed to talk to you for a minute? And people will ask idols to perform or say something specific and they're supposed to just do it on demand? and people tell them the weirdest or most personal shit just to get their reaction and post it online? and people start flirting and A Good Idol is supposed to know how to flirt back but not too much? The whole setup is just crazy. Being an idol is an increasingly difficult job. They're not just singers and dancers and actors, but also photographers and entertainers and vloggers and diplomats who'll always know what to say to everyone and who'll always be ready to be viewed. And also they can never talk about the downsides to it and have to always keep smiling.

[@TAKIZAWAYAMASHITA]

the video call was basically a stopgap for the pandemic basically a fanmeeting without being there. Some of these idols are hilarious and i like their funny ass shenanigens I know they play alot of games too theonly thing I would do if i could talk to them is be like 1v1 me in leauge get rekt son drop ur gamer tag lets go!! lol

[@sailormoon1013]

The NCT sasaeng is from the area where I work and go to school and sometimes me and my coworkers will see her on campus/in our store and it’s so awkward…she’s famous for such a horrible reason and she feeds off of it.

[@TAKIZAWAYAMASHITA]

i would pay to be her stalker just so she understands how that feels, some people do not learn a lesson until they experience it.

[@erinlee5936]

​@@TAKIZAWAYAMASHITA rumor on the internet is she doesn't care what she's doing, as long as she gets what she wants. She'd enjoy it if you do follow her. She wants the clout and the fame.

[@CrimsonDawn-ou4og]

How is she not arrested

[@IndigoDetry]

her almost getting snatched off the stage is crazy because it seemed like there was no sense of urgency to save her before it was too late… jesus christ. i cant even imagine the trauma.

[@confused7970]

That clip from NCT official channel is sooooo hard to watch, they were aware of the girl stalking them and they were trying so hard to act normal as if they didn't notice her but you can sense the awkwardness... Ugh... Painful to say the least

[@LG-zg8mw]

But to be honest, the idol industry promotes this obsession and parasocial relationships in order to profit to the max

[@maxventunosei5017]

Money >>>>>> stress, anxiety, boundaries 😭

[@Aziza_Nyxie_Jynx_Ashling]

The creepiest sasaeng fan I have heard about is Josh (fan/stalker of Twice Nayeon) who spent over 3 million dollars who feels if she won’t be with him then she should pay him back (‘nice guy’ energy). There are vids of his rants and it’s insane and scary

[@jesspetrelli]

Perfect Blue by Satoshi Kon is such a good (and scary) film about this subject, and it's from 1997. Major trigger warning as it's pretty intense, but showcases closely how toxic fans can become as they project their own expectations on their idols.

[@salmik_]

Amazing film

[@orsikocs]

Unpopular opinion but doja cat was right for saying she doesn’t know the fans and she bas no relationship w them therefore doesn’t love them. You could tell just how big of a delusion ppl have when there is an uproar for doja not loving complete strangers. Some could say she needs to be grateful for their money. I don’t think so. If she never came out with songs ppl would spend their time and money elsewhere. We live in the same time as the fall of Rome when people were too fixated on pleasure and gore and lost their control. People just want circus no matter who it is.

[@jayaisnthere]

ture, its disspaointing how ppl are more upraged abt that and her demonic actions or wtv, instead of her dating her pedo bf

[@sakuranatsuni5838]

I agree definelty I think anyone who was offended is genuinely chronically online.

[@user_springday]

true but she only said that to distract from the fact she’s dating a p*do and actively silencing his victims 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@soyjoyy]

She should at least respect (not love), RESPECT people that spend their time to listen to her music and support her on every platform without getting paid simply out of love for her music, instead she chose to behave like an ungrateful, self absorbed bіtсh, that takes her popularity for granted and calls people slurs. She would have been a nobody without her fans. Bad comparison, since she deserves all hate she gets these days.

[@letsalllovelein]

I also don't find fault with her stating that it's impossible for her to love her fans, however, seeing as her fanbase is more than likely peppered with children/teens, people with fragile mental stability, etc., she could've been a little less abrasive with how she said it. Other than that, I don't see her as being wrong in this instance.

[@allyoopsie]

dude if you are lonely it is very easy to get sucked into it. beautiful people telling you they love you and sing you ballads and will do lives where you feel seen, it is wild. i got into kpop after a bad relationship and it was really comforting but i realized it got unhealthy when i wrote a fan fic lmao so i had to reevaluate. you gotta be self aware because you are spoon fed perfection.

[@frogssquad1276]

Firstly, as a nctzen I’m really thankful for you to talk about nct stalker problems, these year there were sooo much creepy situations but sm reacted only at this one And with all my heart I don’t understand such people, is it really makes them happy to be hated by the whole fandom??? Just what’s in their mind, that we’re jealous?? Thank you no

[@duqial]

I think it's a lot of delusions, not being a fully grown adult with social awarness and knowledge of sb's limits plus sometimes it can be fueled by bad mental space or mental illness. I just hope these people either get help or get charged for being a menance to society and violating other's privacy

[@MsElizaRae]

Sounds bout SM smh

[@mordecaiissad8529]

The aggressive stalkers before said themselves their goal is to be remembered by the idol. I remember a girl basically running in grabbing and pulling an idols hair really aggressively. She said she's satisfied because she's sure the idol will remember that forever. It's a very messed up way of "making yourself special", they are aware they are just a part of a mass of people to the idol, so they are happy to get noticed and get attention even if it's negative, it's better than nothing. It's part of the reason why companies and idols rarely talk about it, because the more attention they get the more it encourages them and others to do the same. It frustrates fans, but really talking about it and getting public attention from the idol, company and fans does stimulate people like that to do it because in their head, it's working. Obviously not all of them since there are just delulu people too.

[@bbkyuu]

@@mordecaiissad8529problem is, not doing/saying anything makes it so they can do all this with no consequences so nothing is discouraging them from it /:

[@mordecaiissad8529]

@@bbkyuu as someone who generally has little to no faith in companies, I think it's important to remember that companies do a lot of things to limit and reduce these situations internally. No one can control literally everything, but they try. My point being just because it's not addressed publicly and related to fans doesn't mean they don't do anything. Which is understandably frustrating to fans, but it's actually worse if they do make public statements about everything. Recently stays were very upset that JYPE wasn't giving a statement on what they are doing to protect Felix when he was getting death threats. Like it's bad for the idols for a company to publicly state what precautions and actions they are taking. Not only are you warning the person what to watch out for, but for every statement you can count 10 more people that were thinking about doing it will feel encouraged they will be able to get attention too.

[@jackiearnolds]

I don't personally consider consuming someone's content or even being a fan of them and their work as me having a parasocial relationship with them. I draw the line as being deeply emotionally invested in someone's personal life. For example, when a celebrity couple breaks up. If you're like "what a shame, they looked cute together" and moves on with your day versus people who truly stop believing love because of how invested they were in that relationship. Because of that, I don't think parasocial relationships can ever be healthy, as they are mentally and emotionally draining.

[@cheezarose]

K-dramas and webtoons with their constant Cinderella Stories and becoming the girlfriend of your fave are also adding fuel to the fire in my opinion. (I'm no hater of these medias I enjoy them but it's part of the problem,I think). It's the same as anime fans who start behaving as if their waifus (fave anime female characters) are real or as if every Japanese girl is an anime girl or even as if they are an anime character themselves.

[@user-ix7rj3pc7r]

Yeah I 100% agree I have a japanese friend she is really sweet and lovely. She once spoke to me about this how she dreads meeting anyone who is super into anime as often they dehumanise her a lot. I thought it was really sad and was shocked that people actually do this!

[@wqrw1290]

@@user-ix7rj3pc7rThe weird anime watchers do that 🥶

[@ZuziFox]

TBH some of the idols are making it worse calling their fans their "girlfriends".....the companies are probably pushing this narrative themselves as well

[@Adelaide_Cuthbert]

No, lol. That's like the equivalent of when people would jokingly get Facebook "married" to their friends. It does not excuse genuine abuse, stalking, or entitlement. Hold the right people accountable for their actions. Being silly and saying "all my fans are my girlfriends" does not mean they are at fault when someone unhinged decides to take that literally.

[@ZuziFox]

@@Adelaide_Cuthbert Who said it's an excuse and people should not be hold accountable? All I said it gets worse, that does not take away or shift any accountability of the abusers.

[@Calebloveshisfriends]

I will never understand people who get so obsessed with famous people, enjoy their art but understand they are just people - also people who get obsessed tend to miss out on other things that they could enjoy!!

[@wendyraye1]

Maybe if the industry would stop exploiting the parasocial relationship they would have fewer stalkers and just plain weird acting fans. But, I suppose money is more important than the safety of fans and artists, at least until something drastic happens...

[@CocoRegardless]

Well pretty drastic things have happened and nothing really changed :/

[@sabiriinabdi45]

Facts

[@sakuranatsuni5838]

The fans are just as accountable, they know in the back of their head it’s wrong but prioritize their feelings and selves over rverything

[@moistsquish]

Ya know sometimes I think that Delulu isn't the solulu...

[@Haley__Mae]

yeah... I agree 🥲

[@summerhold943]

Stay trululu to your delulu

[@chanmarr8118]

This is crazy. I have fav artists/actors but I can’t imagine stalking them and knowing every little details about their lives and family. I don’t even know birthdays. I just love their work and happy when they have a new song or movie/show out and that’s where it stops for me. I don’t put anyone on a pedestal.

[@aurorials2414]

I am a Taylor swift fan but if I ever see her on the street I would just leave her alone and not approach her because she deserves privacy. We need to remember that although our favorite artists are famous, at the end of the day they are still human. I was side eyeing to see the crowd of fans who were waiting for Taylor outside Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley’s wedding and it was wrong in many ways and ruining their moment. Our favorite artists aren’t animals on the zoo that we can harass and we should leave them alone.

[@raeganj6744]

I don’t listen to kpop, but I’m fascinated by the strange dystopia that is the kpop industry and that’s why I watch edvasian

[@dae8665]

i do gotta say, as a kpop fan, i spent a lot of money whenever BAP would come to the states and i did end up running into them in public areas (and private areas) many times. one time i did stay camped out in the airport for a few hours to hand them gifts, but never again because i felt really gross doing that. and i didnt wanna cross that fan-celeb border again. but like.. BAP definitely recognized me to some degree, because their staff and the touring company staff knew me by name.. and that shit made me feel nice?? because not only was i supporting a group i love, but i was recognized for spending so much money (i went to 5/6 of the US stops for party baby) i still love buying their albums, but looking back, i did a lot of questionable things that could've led me to a stalker route.. but once when i ran into them at the lounge of a casino, I sprinted back to the parking garage because i was so shocked to see BAP in person (and not in a hi-touch event) that my only thought was to run lmao i can understand the delusion of some fans, but i dont know how they lose their morality to break into hotels, homes, dorms, or steal idols' stuff.. like.. it's wild

[@duqial]

I see Mark Lee and Edvasian on the thumbnail and I know it is going to be a masterpiece. Also a lot of NCT horror 'fans' stories. They are my ults and it really is concerning, that these things keep on happening to them.

[@doctortalisman9861]

i was waiting for you to mention the sasaengs of the group tvxq in the 2000s, they were infamous! if you google it, you can actually find a long document fans put together detailing what they did, but among many other things they sexually harassed and assaulted the members, broke into their homes, took pictures of them sleeping, and caused traffic accidents via following the group in taxis. one of the members was also poisoned by an anti-fan.

[@ontanontan9372]

i like ur videos but the betterhealth shill is just irresponsible

[@idontreadorreply]

Was thinking the exact same thing!!

[@yume_colored]

I agree

[@niatozaki]

i turned off the vid after that lol

[@yume_colored]

@@niatozaki Understandable

[@namkia205]

What did it do?

[@Banjoey]

You brought up Oshi no Ko, Perfect Blue is also one my favorite movies about a Japanese idol who is stalked. It’s a bit more thriller and mystery esque but such an amazing watch and commentary on parasocial relationships! Im also a resident NCTzen, met NCT with their consent backstage before and then got accused by this same fan that I stalked them when it was her because of it 😂 good (?) times I guess?

[@akiko7298]

gotta love that when you meet them consenually and in an appropriate manner and get called stalker by the stalker

[@creepycutedreams]

Annnnnd yet ANOTHER reason I'm glad I'm not a celeb. 😭😂

[@stormyk244]

In this day and age I don’t understand anyone wanting to become famous or even temporarily viral. Too many unhinged people out there!

[@utatanepikoV5]

betterhealth??? come on man..

[@starv_x]

The same reaction I had 😭

[@M-O-N-S-T-E-R13]

The show Aggretsuko had a season about idols and a depiction of a obsessed stalker. It was really interesting

[@royalgrimoire]

The line "slutty little cock tease" was not a line I expected to hear in a Sanrio show I'll tell you that much 😂😂😂

[@Olia-ch-ka]

The really sad thing to me is that stalker girl kinda proved her point. That looks mattered, that she would be treated better, and that her idols would give her attention if only she was a pretty girl. She was ignored when she was ugly. Got plastic surgery and wow! All of a sudden these idols want her in their lives and will sleep with her and give her attention. Only thing that's different are her looks, she was still the same person. It's fucked up.

[@IndigoDetry]

I don’t understand how people can go from liking someone and supporting them to stalking them and breaking into their hotel room. There’s genuinely something wrong with peoples brains.

[@Fatima_92]

I wish you have brought up the things that happened with dbsk /tvxq and kim jae joong specifically.. and how they suffered immensely withe the sasaeng while their company didn't take any measures

[@TAKIZAWAYAMASHITA]

jae today is like batman literally because of saseangs his new house has literal fortknox security and he or his staff take 20 different routes home with decoys like hes the president of the damn country lol so people do NOT know where he lives

[@CocoRegardless]

5:21 not the person dressed in a horse costume dancing to maniac😭😭😭best fancall moment

[@LysolMyFace]

One of my favourite videos is of Wang Yibo in an airport tossing his skateboard down and just skating away as all these crazy fans run after him filming and taking photos. Its hilarious and cringe.

[@pxmens9430]

This strongly reminded me of the time where one of more Bigbang members received blood letters from sasaeng fans. Unfortunately, with the rise of sasaeng fans, did also come a rise of anti-fans. The two best examples are Yunho who was given orange juice, mixed with super glue, and I believe it was a Super Junior member who was almost stabbed back in Barcelona or elsewhere in Europe. Those aren't the only incidents, of course. But it's sad having to worry about your favourites when they're normal, and (hopefully) healthy people like everyone else. Personally, I don't even consider sasaengs as fans at this point. Sure enough, the pictures they take are great, but shoving the camera into a person's face is just messed up and no one would want that. To be followed around while you're trying to do your job properly is just as uncomfortable. In other words: Don't be a psycho.

[@Mormo08]

Thank You SO MUCH for adding the "East" in Asia, as a South Asian person it made my day😭❤️

[@milvperez]

Ncity always at the scene of the crime 😢 I remember watching that NCT video and feeling so uncomfortable seeing that girl follow them around. I can’t imagine how the members felt and having to pretend she wasn’t there. I get it’s not a crime to stand near them, but what’s the point of those body guards being there then?

[@cherylmarler1059]

Deluluville is a fun place to visit for entertainment, but don't LIVE there :)

[@rosie-o.7762]

This ^ 100%. Well said.

[@silvers4222]

Recently Wooyoung of Ateez called out these stalker fans in one of his lives because these stalkers kept messaging them on their private phones; and it shocked me because how the fuck did they get Ateez personal phone numbers;like thats so scary 😭 I dont know how idols do it honestly 😭😭

[@TAKIZAWAYAMASHITA]

because saseangs often are rich, think about it. If you can follow a idol everywhere they go including overseas and get all their contact details, you are NOT poor. Getting info costs money meaning you had to bribe people and that isnt cheap, all that transportation aint cheap either. these people have $$$$$$$$$$$$

[@silvers4222]

they should invest all that money to getting some therapy sessions 😭😭 cus thats just mental illness

[@DimaRakesah]

Props to the dancer who was like "oh hellllll naw" when that dude tried to walk away with her fellow group member.

[@faenights]

most of these sasengs are super rich. (and so are the fansites- there's definitely a venn diagram here with how obsessive and intrusive both are). being spoiled rich brats would explain the entitlement and how out of touch with normalcy they are.

[@rainb0wpiie]

This isn't the first time NCT's privacy got invaded. I remember that NCT 127 went on a US-tour pre-covid and a stalker broke into their tour bus, took pictures, touched their stuff, laid in their beds, etc. It's so disgusting!

[@lightopxia]

omg the ateez one, when someone put a TRACKING DEVICE on their van, that’s so scary, how messed up and out of reality you have to be to do something like that? Are they going to see that and be like: “aw, how sweet” Some people really do deserve jail.

[@alittlebitofnothing7734]

Perfect Blue was ahead of its time

[@JessieBanana]

Honestly, there would be even more sasaengs if it didn’t cost so much money to be one. It’s scary to think about. These kids needs help.

[@eetadakimasu]

That poor girl! That had to have been so scary being dragged away!

[@Cangeltibon]

Please stop using Better Health as a sponsor, they are still a terrible company.

[@sonderlvst]

Yes, I understand it’s exciting to see your idols in different countries and just out living their lives, but do we really have to take pictures and videos of them EVERYTIME you see them doing anything either by themselves or with family/friends? Why is someone that is famous is so glorified when they aren’t doing anything but the same as us just in a more so expensive way? Why is it that stans feel so strongly they have to be involved in an idols life?

[@maxventunosei5017]

Yeah it's just. How is it okay to follow a stranger to their hotel. How is it okay to stalk a stranger. How is it okay to take pictures of a stranger. It's all they are at the end, on both sides, it's sad

[@Bashfulash]

Now why are you hiding Judy’s information and blurring her face when she doesn’t even do that herself … SM also did not blur her face in the NCT video 🙃 she doesn’t deserve your grace man

[@Brouwer-]

I'm a fan, but I'm too old to become that obsessed 😂😂😂😂! I enjoy my admiration for them in a healthy way, understanding that being an idol (with all it represents) is just their job and that they owe me nothing. I enjoy their music and shows, from time to time I attend a concert, I got one album and some other merch that friends have given me for my birthday, but that's it, my life revolves around me, not them!

[@julie-jj5zg]

I have been a Kpop stan since 2016 and it's sad that these things still happen, i think that these people are just disrespectful towards their idols and they don't deserve to be called fans, also because of their behavior some fandoms have a really bad reputation. If you are a true fan you have to respect the limits and privacy of your idols because they are human beings just like you, it's something so simple but it seems that many people still cannot understand it 😕

[@kasia2750]

She could stole key from employe for example - they are basicly masters, since maids, people from maintanance or even reception have to be able to get to multipy rooms during their shifts and it would not make sense to generate access cards for specific rooms. Or maybe employee sold her or lend her this card. Some readers remember which card was use on them, so maybe they will be able to track, if it was indeed work card of somebody from the hotel.

[@LakeGael]

These damn people are the reason I had to pay $500+ for ultimate vip to my last kpop concert so I can have the chance for the "hi touch" event, and then the "hi touch" event was literally a less-than-5-second walk-by that I almost missed because staff was yelling at someone behind me to move their bag to the other side of their body and I was confused because I thought he was yelling at me. One girl was crying because she DID miss the group because of staff yelling at people and they wouldn't let her just walk 10 feet back to wave and smile at them. I'm just a mostly normal person who knew that concert was going to be their last (even though it wasn't announced), chill.

[@carnab1]

The video in wich nct were sledding i though she was a staff member bc she was in literally every scene!!! She was practically glued to them!!! Finding out she's actually a sasaeng made me so mad! The members must have felt so uncomfortable, but they stayed so professional. I always wonder how ppl can act like that if they truly love their idols?! Are they so blinded by their deluluness that they forget every normal human boundary?! It's sad!!!

[@babowasalwayshere]

I really do hate how we don't punish sasaeng fans enough for their behavior. I've even seen people spreading rumors about idols based on "intel" they got from sasaeng fans. The fact it may have been a bunch of lies or conjecture at best aside, it's a complete invasion of privacy, overstepping of boundaries and just overall despicable. It's not just that they don't get consequences, there are even people who *worship* sasaeng fans for their dedication, insight, etc. It's disgusting. If idols don't want you to know something, you don't *deserve* to know.

[@BruhImAGirl]

EXO having recieved letter written in period blood 🤧 Edit: that was 2pm's Teacyeon I mixed the stories, so some "fans" cut themselves and wrote EXO on their body parts with a sharp object and wrote messages directed to EXO members

[@zoeskrivanou2505]

That was 2pm teacyeon. EXO was Suho getting the "Suho r@@e me" sign during a show.

[@BruhImAGirl]

@@zoeskrivanou2505 my bad, there were letters in non period blood directed to exo

[@Adelaide_Cuthbert]

9:36 Absolute respect to the other performer that, without hesitance, decided the safety of the other girl was more important than keeping the song going. She marched after them and was not having it.

[@The_C_Word]

Hahah thank you for including that fan can with Han and the fan in the horse costume doing the Maniac dance 😂

[@eN-Tty]

Me still thinking about that stay in horse costume dancing on maniac

[@bunn228]

There's a song called "Mousou Nikki (Delusion Diary)" by a Japanese band SID that came out a long time ago before the internet was so... big. Every time I hear stories about stalking/obsessive fans and messed up fan messages etc. it reminds me of the lyrics from that. I swear they used the letters from their uh, "extreme fans", as direct inspiration 😂

[@DavidCruickshank]

I just looked up that song and it's sequel, and wow you are so right 😧😅

[@MoomooMaria]

Why a lot of people are mad at Doja cat. Cause she said exactly that. She doesn’t have to love her fans or call them her fans. She can appreciate them and what they do but she’s not gonna give her whole life to them like they own her and especially when the fans who claim to love her are the most critical of things she wants to do in her life

[@JamesStJake]

The fact that idols are marketed as single and "dating" their fans is not only extremely gross but also a part of the problem. Relationship between idols and fans can be really unique and sweet while respectful, and I appreciate they can start a live and share their creative process or music recommandations with the fans (like BangChan from Stray Kids or a good portion of BTS). But the rest should be off limits to the fans, but also to the company.

[@TAKIZAWAYAMASHITA]

People get the idea they can date their idol, likely because they see the super rare happy ending situations. Like in Japan recently it took headlines where a woman who played the long game of talking to her bias for years until she convinced him to date her and years later the two are happily married together and expecting kids. Fans see stuff like that and think " Gee that can be us" wth bts,exo nct,svt etc

[@isleofapplepies]

Ed, your hair recently - one of the best looks yet, and there have been some iconic ones. Really great look :)

[@Arisutea_]

I have bonded it’s people over you videos, talk about crazy

[@Sparks.u]

Great content, also I'm really loving this look! So handsome 🌷

[@BabvBlues]

I’ve been BINGING ur channel

[@Bbqbbq13]

Kpop idols are normal ass people too, everyone is. If you truly cared for the idol, you would respect them as much as you care for them. You acknowledge how a parasocial relationship is, take your delulu pills, and just admire them. Don’t get into their business, or act like you are better then them. I bad with words, but you get what I mean right? Loving your idol also means treating them right

[@yuktha-a0624]

Nooo bro 😭 what is going on, it’s like they’re not even human beings at this point. Like, would you like someone to break into your hotel room or what?

[@EllieAngelovaa]

Your voice is so calming

[@Max-OCATCBuff]

The first video I've seen in quite a long time where the sponsor fits perfectly with the topic.

[@Chachixo]

OMG I saw that girl's tweets and at first I didn't understand the context but after looking at her profile...scary. I was surprised how open she was about it because everything I've heard about that community seemed to be more secretive and mostly on Instagram.

[@InvisibleRen]

It’s not like it’s crazy to feel a little disappointed when your favourite celebrity gets a partner. It’s natural as an unconscious emotion because of the chemicals in your brain when you grow attached to something. But with developed frontal lobes and a lack of pathological delusional behavior, you should be able to say “Well, the chances of me getting to meet/date them is basically nonexistent anyway. So I’m happy for them to have found someone! I hope I can find someone someday too!” Unfortunately, some people aren’t able to develop their frontal lobes for whatever reason and have dangerous delusional behaviors. Those are the threats to celebrities safety and livelihood. So basically people under 25 and those with cluster B personality disorders. 😅 Now if only the youngins under 25 would listen to us older folks when we say, “Hey, that’s kinda creepy/disrespectful to your idol,” then we’d have the largest demographic of potential crazies not behave so crazily. Alas, they just don’t f*cking listen, so the number of threats is way larger than it should be rn.

[@paulogarcia9739]

hope you do a video focusing on odd fan behavior concerning idol dating, idol dating rumors, and fans who try to "own" their idol's narratives by creating the dating rumors themselves, as well as shipping them as a means of projecting their own romantic fantasies on them.

[@Ooblia]

Edddd love the content, and your hair and fit are 😩🤌🏻

[@Hechauther]

8:38 didn’t expect an Oshi No Ko plug-in 😂

[@neobongzzz]

I've been a kpop fan for years and most of my friends are as well, it's actually creepy everytime I remember people like this actually exist and that they're genuinely delusional 💀

[@Zorriel]

that intro made me happy, "morning welcome back" :>

[@Fleuridon]

The saesang who posted the hotel room tour def committed a crime but one thing I will say for arguing semantics, in her case, is it can affect the crime she will be charged for. For example, how someone gets into a place they steal from determines whether they get charged with burglary (breaking in to steal or commit a felony) or larceny (walking into an open, accessible place and stealing). Both are crimes, but they carry different sentences if convicted.

[@Unhappytimeaper]

Story-ish; I work as a middle school teacher in South Korea outside of Seoul [about an hour]. NET, or native English teachers, are fairly common and the one our school had last year turned out to be an extreme sasaeng. She ended up believing she was dating an idol and would tell our coworkers about it, but it ended up progressing into worse behavior as she was convinced everything and everyone in the school including students were actors who were paid to essential cater to some fantasy about this idol she had created this fake relationship with after stalking for the months she had been since moving here. Eventually one of my coworkers convinced her to she a therapist and because the problem had progressed so badly she was asked to return home from Korea/teaching. I don’t know much as of now but I heard she’s still getting help in her home country, but eventually wants to return to Korea. I have no clue what the actual condition is but I do know she was diagnosed with a form of mental illness that had only started showing signs maybe a year or so before though, and it was because of kpop and idol culture she latched onto it as a form of comfort that morphed into obsessiveness because of the rapidly growing diagnosis. I don’t like Sasaengs. I don’t support them and frankly their behavior I find deeply unforgivable with little excuses, however, those who do end up this way often tend to desperately need some form of therapy and intervention as usually it’s a sign of underlying issues. The problem is that the industry thrives off marketing to fans like this, while also therapy and mental health help is still something quite inaccessible. When acknowledging sasaengs I do hope people do not defend or find any reason to excuse their actions even if it can be traced back to mental health problems, but it’s our job to still have some decorum in understanding most sasaengs aren’t sasaengs without reason. At the same time social media has always encouraged bad behavior with the reward of attention. The whole devious licks trend is a great example, that I find many foreign sasaengs but still present in Korea only do this as a sign of attention, or bragging rights because fun stories are just that online to most people. This has been a problem for many, many decades now and social media is just giving us a better chance to see stories, but honestly if you find yourself needing to spend 12+ hours online consuming only fandom content please remember to genuinely takes breaks and find other ways to handle your problems. Edit: I don’t think people who aren’t this persons therapist should be making comments or diagnosis on her condition. It’s one thing to point out what conditions can cause such behaviors, but I don’t care if you think it’s helpful or whatever, it’s not the place to speak for this person. The issues extended more past just this behavior into have extreme paranoia about many things. I wasn’t working at the school at the time so I never met her, so I cannot speak on the issue more than what I do know yet I didn’t find it relevant to mention in the topic of video. Nevertheless, the point still stands and it could have been tied to many, many different things so its best to just refrains from making guesses or diagnosis from like a fraction of the story.

[@shoujokadyan5502]

Sounds like Erotomania

[@misuzu_dono]

Ooo i love reading stuff that's so well said❤❤

[@erinlee5936]

*Sasaeng, not saesang. Sounds like Limerence with codependency issues. I'm glad she sought treatment for her condition. Maybe it's not a good idea for her to return to South Korea.

[@Luumus]

Very reasonable and nuanced response to really extreme behaviour

[@meganrae2508]

I’ve definitely had parasocial relationships with creators/musicians/podcasters, but never once have I thought that entitles me to any sort of real world attention.

[@minoena]

3:22 not cool. You know that a scam, they were literally exposed years ago. Disgusting that you would even accept a sponsorship.

[@katiewaters2899]

That Jaehyun stalker goes to my university bruh I am so embarrassed for her.

[@rockingroller]

another day, another delicious video king

[@akiko7298]

I heard in the fandom I'm in that someone (idk who) gave one of the members underwear, like for him, and when we heard the story we just wanted to know how did the fan know what size to buy??? But like especially in small fandoms I've seen so many of the fans who are like pathological about it: they'll believe they have some "special" relationship with the idol (and small fandoms, idols get to know the faces/names of fans whom they see a lot) and like get upset if someone else is a fan of their favorite member. I've seen it grow into stalking of a fansite and the fansite's personal social media.

[@sharonverdon4072]

Yep crazy shit going on with idols

[@quinnly3091]

Love your new hairstyle!

[@aditi875]

I think more youtubers or kpop related youtube channels should make videos on parasocial relationships to aware people or fans because in the end it will only be the fan who will suffer.

[@aureliabrown4158]

Your hair looks so good! A little unrelated but still ❤

[@InvisibleRen]

PSA: reminder to turn off location on your camera app.