A viral video showing a HYBE staff member handling ILLIT’s Wonhee has sparked outrage across social media. The clip, filmed by a fan, shows Wonhee signing autographs when a staff member suddenly grabs her waist, shoves her to the side, and pushes her away. The ILLIT member looks visibly uncomfortable, with her smile disappearing as she’s dragged mid-interaction.
The footage quickly spread on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where fans and onlookers voiced their anger and disappointment at both HYBE and the staff involved. One fan wrote, “Why is he moving her like she’s an object? Are they real?” while another said, “This manager has been found to treat members rudely many times.” Others pointed out how HYBE often treats idols like “investments” rather than people, bringing up similar past controversies.
Many fans supported Wonhee, saying she looked “so stressed” and “visibly distressed.” Others criticized those defending the company, with one user expressing, “Watch them make excuses instead of holding them accountable.” The overwhelming sentiment online was that HYBE’s treatment of their artists has gone too far, with calls for the company to issue an apology and better protect their idols.