Park Bom Faces Backlash Over Lee Min Ho Posts as Fans Debate Celebrity Boundaries
Park Bom, former member of the K-pop group 2NE1, has drawn controversy following a series of Instagram posts involving actor Lee Min Ho. The singer, who recently launched a new Instagram account, shared images referring to Lee as "my husband," prompting mixed reactions from fans and netizens.
On February 12, Bom posted a collage featuring an image of herself alongside a picture of Lee Min Ho. She captioned the post "My husband" and later repeated the phrase in another update. The posts quickly went viral, with some fans viewing them as lighthearted and humorous, while others raised concerns about the appropriateness of such statements from a public figure.
The situation escalated when Bom briefly changed her profile picture to an image of Lee Min Ho. She also followed her new Instagram account from her main profile, further fueling speculation and online discussion. While some fans saw her behavior as a playful expression of admiration, others criticized it, arguing that public figures should be more mindful of their interactions with fellow celebrities.
Critics noted that if a male celebrity had done something similar, the backlash might have been harsher. One user commented, "If a male celebrity did that, he would've been criticized and things would've blown up... It's hard to excuse it as just fan behavior since they're public figures." Another added, "Regardless of gender, no matter how unwell someone is, bringing up another celebrity like that is just rude. People around them should stop them from doing this."
In response to the growing controversy, Park Bom's agency issued a statement on February 13, addressing her social media activity. "We cannot confirm matters related to the artist's SNS posts, which constitute a part of their private life. However, based on the artist's previous incident, we assume that this recent incident is once again simply an expression of her affection toward Lee Min Ho as a fan," the agency stated, according to AllKpop.
The statement attempted to clarify that Bom's posts were made in a non-serious manner, emphasizing her role as a fan rather than suggesting any real connection between the two celebrities. However, this did little to quell the ongoing online debate.
Some social media users expressed sympathy for Lee Min Ho, suggesting that such public associations could be uncomfortable for the actor. "That must be scary. Poor Lee Min Ho," one user wrote, while others argued that celebrities should maintain professional boundaries to avoid unnecessary speculation.
Despite the criticism, a portion of Bom's fanbase defended her, comparing her behavior to that of any enthusiastic fan account. Many supporters found her posts amusing and harmless, pointing out that countless fans jokingly refer to their favorite celebrities as their "husband" or "wife." "It's just Bom being Bom," one fan commented, dismissing the controversy as an overreaction.
Park Bom Prepares for 2NE1's Comeback Concert
Despite the controversy, 2NE1 is set to hold their encore concert "2025 2NE1 CONCERT [WELCOME BACK] ENCORE IN SEOUL" on April 12-13 at KSPO DOME.
Park Bom, who debuted in 2009 and is now in her 16th year as a singer, continues to make headlines-not just for her music, but also for her social media activity.
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