HYBE Mocked Over A Viral Photo of CORTIS Backstage

A viral photo of BIGHIT MUSIC‘s newest group, CORTIS, has the internet mocking HYBE for being “over the top.”

The photo, tweeted as a sneak peek at CORTIS said to be leaving a venue, gained over 1.6M+ views on X (former Twitter). It showed the group being covered in umbrellas:

코르티스 퇴근길 ㅇㅈㄹ pic.twitter.com/wKHkmW967H

— 엥야 (@imangxx_) September 5, 2025

CORTIS leaving like this WTF?

— @imangxx_/X

When it was later argued that the photo shows the group on hold backstage, the makeshift “waiting area” continued to be mocked regardless. One comment shared a photo alleged to be of TWS, capturing a similar umbrella situation, and called it a “HYBE tradition” to use umbrellas to cover their artists.

• “Is this supposed to be comedy? LOL.”
• “Lmao. Talk about being over the top fr.”
• “Reminds me of Gain’s performance.”
• “Damn, when you’re a rookie, your face should be shown the most. What are they even doing?! LOL. This is hilarious.”
• “Is this some kind of viral marketing?”
• “LOL. Why are they like that?”
• “They’re acting crazy, LOL. Even the president doesn’t get treated like that.”
• “Looks like a scene from a musical…”
• “Actually, if it’s HYBE, maybe it’s better they do that. Their security teams have already had multiple assault incidents. Instead of hitting fans, they should just keep doing this.”

While some pointed out the innovative use of what was available to them to protect the members, most teased the effort for being “extra.”

• “Even this is so typical of HYBE, it’s just funny. LOL.”
• “I saw them doing this in China back in the day LOL…”
• “Why cover them up though?”
• “Doesn’t feel right to mock them with unrelated stuff. It’s not like the members asked for it. It’s just BIGHIT being extra.”
• “Why criticize this, though? The ones bashing here are weirder.”
• “The best thing we can do is to ignore HYBE forever.”

This is not the first time CORTIS has faced online backlash, even as a rookie. Given HYBE’s ongoing troubles in the Korean entertainment business, it’s the associated groups that are feeling the heat.

Read more about it here:

HYBE Group CORTIS Met With Heavily Divided Reactions For Debut Song’s Official Video