BOYNEXTDOOR member Myeong Jaehyun has apologised after facing criticism for describing actor Lee Kwang Soo’s fan interactions as “customer acquisition”. The singer addressed the controversy during a Weverse live broadcast on October 21, explaining that he had intended to praise the actor’s communication skills but had chosen the wrong words. His remarks sparked an online debate about how artists describe their relationships with fans. Jaehyun clarified that he respects Lee and wanted to learn from the way he communicates with his supporters. He also acknowledged his mistake and promised to be more careful with his words in the future.
How Jaehyun’s Comment About Lee Kwang Soo Sparked Controversy
The controversy began on October 20, when Jaehyun discussed Lee Kwang Soo’s activity on Bubble, a paid messaging platform that allows celebrities to communicate with fans. The BOYNEXTDOOR member revealed that he had subscribed to Lee’s Bubble account and admired how actively the actor interacted with his supporters.
While sharing the anecdote, Jaehyun described Lee’s ability to attract and engage fans as “customer acquisition.” He also remarked that the skill was a talent in itself, adding that he found it difficult because he did not think of his own fans as customers.
Although Jaehyun appeared to be praising Lee’s communication skills, the wording quickly attracted criticism online. Some people felt that describing fan interactions in business-related terms sounded impersonal and could make the relationship between celebrities and their supporters seem transactional.
Others interpreted the comparison as suggesting that Lee viewed his fans as customers while Jaehyun did not. This interpretation contributed to the debate, even though Jaehyun later clarified that he had not intended to make a disrespectful comparison. Some fans defended the singer, arguing that he was trying to compliment Lee’s engaging personality and had simply expressed his thoughts poorly.
Lagi rame perdebatan knetz soal pesan Myung Jaehyun BOYNEXTDOOR pas lagi bahas Bubble-nya Lee Kwangsoo.
Niatnya sih mau muji, tapi malah jadi bumerang karena salah pilih kata 🥲
Jadi, Jaehyun cerita di aplikasi pesan fans kalau dia sengaja langganan Bubble Kwangsoo buat 'belajar'.
Dia muji banget skill Kwangsoo dengan bilang, "Kemampuannya menarik pelanggan (fans) itu nggak masuk akal (sangat hebat), itu udah ranah bakat."
Terus Jaehyun nambahin kalimat yang niatnya mungkin mau ngegombalin fansnya sendiri.
"Ah, karena aku sama sekali nggak menganggap (kalian) sebagai pelanggan, jadinya susah hehe."
Gara-gara pakai kata 고객 (gogaek) atau pelanggan, knetz mengkritik Jaehyun.
Ucapannya dianggap malah menyudutkan Kwangsoo dan bikin asumsi seolah-olah sang aktor cuma nganggep fansnya sebagai pelanggan alias sumber cuan doang.
Banyak yang ngingetin Jaehyun buat lebih hati-hati lagi milih kosakata ke depannya biar nggak sering salah ngomong atau bikin salah paham.
Kalau menurut kalian gimana nih guys? Pilihan katanya emang kurang pas, atau netizen aja yang overthinking? 🤔
— spill the tea (@seduhtehnya) October 21, 2026
Jaehyun Apologizes During Weverse Live Broadcast
On October 21, Jaehyun addressed the issue directly during a Weverse live broadcast. He explained that he had initially considered staying silent because he worried that discussing the controversy might create additional problems for Lee Kwang Soo. However, he ultimately decided that apologising was the right thing to do.
Jaehyun explained that his original intention was to express how impressive he found Lee’s interactions with fans. He said he respected the actor and wanted to learn from his approach, but admitted that he had made a mistake while putting that admiration into words. The singer also acknowledged that his phrasing had been inappropriate and promised to pay closer attention to how he communicates in the future.
Jaehyun emphasised that he genuinely regretted the remark and believed that when an apology is necessary, it should be offered sincerely. His statement made clear that he wanted to take responsibility rather than allow the misunderstanding to continue without addressing it. By speaking about the issue himself, he attempted to clarify his intentions while acknowledging why his choice of words had upset some people.
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Lee Kwang Soo’s Bubble Activity Has Attracted Attention
Lee Kwang Soo joined Bubble on October 1, 2026, and quickly became a talking point among fans because of his frequent messages and humorous interactions. Known for his comedic timing and easygoing personality, the actor has brought his familiar sense of humour to the paid fan communication service.
His activity on the platform has included casual conversations, playful responses and updates about his daily experiences. On October 3, Lee even continued communicating with fans while attending a concert by his close friend D.O., a member of EXO. Lee later joked about being discreet while sending messages at the venue so that he would not be caught. He also shared a funny account of a staff member noticing him messaging fans during the concert.
These interactions helped draw attention to Lee’s enthusiastic approach to Bubble. His willingness to share everyday moments and respond playfully to fans has made his account a topic of conversation beyond his acting projects. Jaehyun’s original comments were connected to this very enthusiasm, as he admired how naturally Lee engaged with his supporters.
Myung Jaehyun BOYNEXTDOOR nggak butuh waktu lama buat ngerespons kritikan dan minta maaf.
Lewat siaran live di Weverse (21/10), Jaehyun buka suara soal kesalahpahaman yang terjadi.
Ia ngaku sempat bimbang mau diam aja atau ngasih klarifikasi, karena takut ucapannya malah makin ngerugiin sang senior, Lee Kwangsoo.
Tapi setelah dipikir-pikir, ia sadar kalau dirinya memang ngelakuin kesalahan. Jaehyun pun meluruskan kembali niat awalnya.
"Pas nulis (pesan) itu, maksud asliku sebenarnya murni karena ngerasa beliau itu keren banget. Aku bener-bener respect dan pengen belajar dari beliau, tapi (karena salah penyampaian) jadinya malah begitu," ungkapnya jujur.
Ia juga berjanji bakal jauh lebih berhati-hati lagi ke depannya.
"Yang salah ya tetap salah. Memang udah seharusnya aku minta maaf," tambahnya yang secara gentle mengakui kekeliruannya.
Banyak netizen yang salut sama keberanian Jaehyun buat langsung take action dan nggak biarin masalah kesalahpahaman ini berlarut-larut.
— spill the tea (@seduhtehnya) October 21, 2026
Jaehyun Promises To Be More Careful With His Words
The incident has highlighted how quickly a casual comment on a fan communication platform can become a wider public discussion. Even when a celebrity intends to compliment another artist, the wording can influence how audiences interpret the message. Jaehyun’s explanation focused on his respect for Lee and his desire to learn from the actor’s approach to communication. By acknowledging that his phrasing was a mistake, he sought to separate his intended praise from the interpretation that caused criticism.
The controversy also reflects the different ways artists approach paid messaging services. Some celebrities use these platforms for frequent, informal conversations, while others may find it more challenging to establish the same style of interaction. BOYNEXTDOOR is preparing for its North American tour, which is scheduled to begin in Seattle on October 30, 2026. As the group moves into its upcoming activities, Jaehyun’s apology has addressed the immediate issue, although the discussion has also served as a reminder of the attention surrounding artists’ public statements.
Final Take
Myeong Jaehyun apologised after his description of Lee Kwang Soo’s fan interactions as “customer acquisition” drew criticism online. He clarified that he had meant to praise the actor’s communication skills and express his admiration, not disrespect him or his fans. By accepting responsibility for his choice of words and promising to be more careful, Jaehyun has attempted to put the controversy into perspective.
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