The Top 4th-Generation Idol Who Was Mercilessly Silenced By His Agency

Have you wondered why Stray Kids‘ Bang Chan stopped holding his live broadcasts?

Despite a busy schedule, Stray Kids’ leader, Bang Chan, consistently held a weekly live broadcast titled Chan’s Room between 2019 and 2023. He often played songs he liked or that STAYs recommended, chatted with STAYs, and was sometimes accompanied by guests.

But since May 14, 2023, Chan’s Room has been on an indefinite hiatus. This timing is correlated to an incident occurring on that day’s live broadcast.

During the last episode, Bang Chan talked about his experience at Music Bank in Paris. He revealed that some of his fellow idols do not greet others, much to his surprise, as he considers it basic manners.

I’m not like cussing people out or anything, but I feel like I’m thinking too much about it because if you see someone walk by, you say annyeonghaseyo, then if they don’t reply back, you’d be like, ‘What the…okay.’ But I feel like it’s come to the point where this generation is allowed to do that, just not care, if that’s right. I guess there were a few scenarios where that would happen. At first, I was like, okay, then the more I thought about it, I was like, maybe I am overexaggerating. Maybe, I’m thinking too much about it. Maybe, I’m a boomer.

— Bang Chan

Chan shouldn’t have to deal with this stuff,its basic manners. If I’m greeting someone and that person ignores me that’s just rude and disrespectful.
Its not the generation, its the people.#skz #chansroom pic.twitter.com/tTgswayXAu

— trix | seeing skz ‼️ (@dwekkichocochip) May 14, 2023

This wouldn’t be the first time Bang Chan has discussed the lack of greetings from some idols without specifying the artists. Although Bang Chan didn’t name anyone, this conversation resulted in artists being criticized while he was praised for his honesty.

But I mean from my perspective, whoever it is, I’m going to say hi the best I can because I am here to have fun and greet people I like and respect. …I’m not going to say names, but I guess some people that I don’t know, I guess it’s like that. Maybe that could be the reason why, because there’s no connection. Maybe, they could’ve been shy or nervous.

— Bang Chan

Consequently, Bang Chan apologized via Instagram for his comments. He expressed that he had no intention to target artists, but he was apologetic for causing any offense. So, he promised to be cautious in the future.

Hello, this is Bang Chan from Stray Kids.
I apologize for the offense caused by the comments I made during a recent live broadcast. I thought about the impact my words and behavior can have on others, and have deeply reflected on myself. I would like to mention that it was not my intention to specify a certain artist, and that my comments had nothing to do with the artist being mentioned currently.

I would like to express my deepest apologies to the artist who has been hurt by my careless words. I sincerely apologize. I will be more cautious of what I say in order to ensure this does not happen again. Once again, I sincerely apologize.

— Bang Chan

 

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A post shared by Stray Kids (@realstraykids)

It seemed normal to expect Bang Chan to take a few months off of his live broadcasts following the controversy, but a short statement from Bang Chan left STAYs criticizing JYP Entertainment. One STAY shared a clip from a fanmeeting in which Bang Chan confessed to a fan that although he wants to do Chan’s Room, the company has told him not to.

I can’t do Chan’s Room anymore. So, ummm, I want to actually, but the company says no.

— Bang Chan

No more chan’s room?😥 This breaks my heart especially that I find comfort and a sense of belonging through his lives. It has become stays’ source of happiness and a way to escape harsh realities. A world where we can let go, at least for an hour. I’m devastated for Chan & Stays pic.twitter.com/CBLV3tHnpr

— ☆;⏳n.📌 (@goldensk_) August 28, 2023

 

Naturally, STAYs were outraged as it confirmed their worries. They not only felt that Bang Chan had nothing to apologize for, but that he also shouldn’t be punished by being forced to shut down his weekly show.

CRYING …….

JYPE PROTECT STRAY KIDS #JYPELeaderOfDisappointment #DIV1DISBAND #JYPEPROTECTSKZ #ProtectBangChan@jypnation@stay_supportpic.twitter.com/jtreAPkRKt

— 밀라 (@__mstay) August 28, 2023

STAYs specifically called out Division 1 (Div1), which is the specific division of JYP Entertainment responsible for managing Stray Kids.

i knew since the apology thing that it was the company doing, but i still wanted to believe channie's room would come back after things got calm again, thank you jyp for ruining, once again, something that was so fucking important to the fandom and chanhttps://t.co/kCa2Fv7Dkj

— iara ☆ (@heartbrkangeI) August 28, 2023

JYPE PROTECT STRAY KIDS #JYPELeaderOfDisappointment #DIV1DISBAND #JYPEPROTECTSKZ pic.twitter.com/9PpaSxaSOZ

— Rom (@joromiishere) August 28, 2023

Many trended #DIVDISBAND on X along with #JYPELeaderOfDisappointment and #JYPEPROTECTSKZ as STAYS were enraged that the company wouldn’t protect its current artists, such as Stray Kids.

Why debut another group while you can’t take care or protect the the groups you have now!!!

JYPE PROTECT YOUR ARTISTS#JYPELeaderOfDisappointment#DIV1DISBAND #ProtectStrayKids@Stray_Kids @jypnation @stay_support pic.twitter.com/8FNo0OmU33

— ☻︎⤮✰⁵樂-STAR FAN ACC 🥠👣 合࿐🦷🌿 ☯︎ (@minchansidebae) August 21, 2023

STOP BOYCOTTING AND DISRESPECTING YOUR OWN ARTIST STAND BY THEM AND DO SOMETHING FOR ONCE

JYPE DO BETTER TO PROTECT STRAY KIDS
JUSTICE FOR CHAN#TreatBangchanRight#ChansRoom#STAYingwithChris#ProtectBangChan#JYPELeaderOfDisappointment#JYPEPROTECTBANGCHAN#DIV1DISBAND… pic.twitter.com/8Uqg5JXrnI

— Nasthy ༊‧₊˚ֶֶֶֶָָָ֢֢֢ ⋆ (@realskzoo) August 28, 2023