Block B criticized for rude behavior, official apologies

[unreal.livejournal.com]

Block B is in the center of attention after a certain interview from Thailand went online and harbored criticisms from the netizens. On the 19th of February, a video interview of Block B's visit to Thailand last January 27th started circulating online and has been getting negative responses for the behavior displayed.

During the interview, Block B was seen showing a rowdy image, as they yelled and sat vigorously clapping. It was also discussed online as to how they were casually distracting the entire interview and were said to have made a comment about Thailand's recent flooding. The said behavior while in an interview roused the netizens to ask if the group wasn't taking things too far. Further expressing if hip hop idol groups or artists are used to a free spirited image.

Block B's management also sent out a statement in response to the speculations stating that the group was merely trying to have some fun but promised that they will soon release a statement about the situation. They later revealed personal messages by all of the group's members (added at the bottom of this article).


As the interview video started circulating online a while back, netizens were alerted once 2PM's Nichkhun tweeted what looked like an indirect message to the group on the matter. Just awhile ago, the boy group's Thai member made an update saying, "Those, who speak about things related to flooding in Thailand without having given it a decent thought, make Thai people feel bad. And instead of coming to Thailand and acting as you please, show some courtesy to this country and please display a proper attitude." At the same time, fellow 2PM member Junho retweeted the same message and also stating that, "I'm not going to disclose the names, but as a fellow Korean I am embarrassed beyond control. It would be great if a person could behave properly knowing that in one single moment one single action can disgrace not only him, but also the people around him. I'm saying this as a human being, and as a senior."

In the meantime the Block B members themselves have been confronted with their own behavior by watching the interview and comments themselves and have started sending out their apologies. Member Taeil was the first to reveal his apology through the group's fancafe. After him, the others followed, sending out messages such as "We were not aware of the seriousness of the situation. We were too rude and we are reflecting on our actions. Again, I am apologizing. We are sorry." (Kyung), "To the citizens of Thailand, I am truly sorry" (Jaehyo), and "I lacked common sense through my words and actions. For that, I truly sincerely apologize" (Zico).

I’m Sorry.

I’ll be the very first to give words of apology.

Even before this Thailand’s interview, there have been many words asking if we aren’t too free-spirited.
I think that despite being authorized to show this side to the public, we did not heed the small warnings, instead acting as if it was our merit, and caused this result.
I believe that every member was foolish.

I watched the Thailand interview video through the fans’ SNS messages and more.
Honestly, I was very surprised. I thought, “Those people in that video are us..
We were doing this media interview in such an irreverent manner” and I felt very ashamed.
I could really understand why people are saying that Block B is disgracing the country.

I, who was distracted with other things during the interview and overlooking rather than controlling the younger member’s behaviors, bow my head once again and give my apologies.

I will work harder than ever before. I will work harder and compensate through better music.
To the victims of the Thailand flood and our fans, I would like to apologize to everyone again.

We’ll show a more mature and humble Block B and Taeil. I’m sorry.

And Leader Zico's apology.

With our crooked manners and behaviors beyond our common sense, we truly apologize in causing uproar in regards to the residents of Thailand who hadn’t necessarily come out of the shock of the flood.

Despite being an adult, we’re very embarrassed that we not only behaved absurdly or in such suggestive manner, but that we did not reckon the national disaster it had caused as well as the hearts of the victims of the flood.

From sitting while leaning against the sofa to shaking our legs and having side conversations with the members throughout the interview, as a public figure, we think that we cannot excuse ourselves in any way nor receive any form of forgiveness in that we could not differentiate the lines between acting freely to acting purely on our own desires, thoughtlessly trying to liven up the atmosphere in which we couldn’t control, and that we made a mistake in ruining the image we have of our country to those in Thailand today.

I am currently truly reflecting over my actions as I apologize in bowing my head again.

I apologize for my disrespectful interview in that I have caused another wound on top of the already existing scar and that I am ashamed. I’m sorry and sorry again.

What do you think of Block B's behavior during the interview? Any thoughts on Nichkhun and Junho's indirect message?

Staff

Zico

Taeil

UKwon

Jaehyo

BBomb


2PM's Tweets



Source: newsen, @Khunnie0624, @dlwnsghek, @2PMAlways, blockbintl, BlockB, heodang,
RYT9 & koreaboo

Comments

[headswillroll88.livejournal.com]

What did they say about the flood exactly?

[turtles-tszx.livejournal.com]

i copied it from allkpop

Zico replied, “I know that many people have it hard due to the flood. With this monetary aid, we hope that you will feel better. The only thing we have is money.” To this, another member chimed in, asking how much money Zico had, to which the leader answered, “About 7000 won?” which is roughly $6 USD. The other members laughed again.

[aniloratka.livejournal.com]

I like their new song very much, but I'll never like them. They seem to be very cocky and they act like douchbaggs. I just don't like their attitute in general.

[kiminikaeru.livejournal.com]

mte, their music is pretty good but i'll never like them as a group

[stephie184.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming they are the same Hottests that made the petition for Jay to leave 2PM *smh*
But thank you for sharing the correct translation

[taecish.livejournal.com]

wow 2pm oppas are such classy flawless angels, even taking 1 second out of their busy schedules to deal with these nugu philistines. U go oppas!

[misty--eyed.livejournal.com]

nugu philistines lol

[turtles-tszx.livejournal.com]

i'm with u bb, i'm waiting for the ongoing comment...

[vvmatsui.livejournal.com]

wow angels

[walkingparadoxx.livejournal.com]

Me too! Also I love Block B's music, regardless of who they are as people, if they disbanded idk what i'd do ;;

[tofucakes.livejournal.com]

zico n kyung r gonna drive this group into the ground

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

if it wasn't for them I would actually stan the group

[aleexnews.livejournal.com]

um aren't they being sarcastic with those comments? or at least the first two?

[notyourgeisha.livejournal.com]

Khun on natural disasters seems ironic; Block Baka remain intolerable other than Taeil and jaehyo

[aeries-amethyst.livejournal.com]

IAWTC -.-

[cagallisakura.livejournal.com]

[Translation]
The interviewer asked if they knew about the floods so the members acted surprised. Zico said, “Of course we know. We were only pretending we didn’t… it’s just for reactions.”
He continued, “A lot of families must have been affected by the floods. We hope they emotionally recover through our financial aid… because all we have is money.”
Another member asked, “How much do you have now?”
Zico replied, “7000 won.”
cr: taenacity

There's a lot of translations out there for what happened but I believe taenacity's credibility most.

[kuumin.livejournal.com]

wow disgusting !!!!!
didnt they also say smth about most hip hop artists being ugly but they are v confident in their looks? (hahaha.)

[raviolikenshin.livejournal.com]

"most hip hop artist being ugly"
(http://tinypic.com?ref=hvqmna)

[devilsatin.livejournal.com]

i just spent 10 minutes googling block b but i'm still not sure what exactly they are

[black-silver.livejournal.com]

i love this comment

[neechee-striped.livejournal.com]

i'm a BBC and always will, i love Block B, but i won't defend them because, even in the right translation, they went too far this time. it was very rude of them i hope they learn from this and know when to be a little more serious. yes, we love when they're being trolls but there's a time and place for it and hopefully they learned something from this.
u.u and things were finally looking good for Block B, oh boys, always fucking up somehow.

[cottonowl.livejournal.com]

I love you, you rational BBC you. <3

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

Proud of Block B and BBC for making proper apologies/not whiteknighting oppa.

Just an example of when trolling crosses a line.

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

This is also an example of terrible reporting (looking at you AKP).

[taecish.livejournal.com]

sign here if u want Block Baka to disband

[kuumin.livejournal.com]

Hello I'm with U i Believe this Block Baka cannot Be continue they Are a shame to korean-pop.

Sign: kuumin

[hpn88.livejournal.com]

wow hottest, disbandment petition. hottest of all people should know petitions like this are stupid. you got your apology so sit down.
I am proud of khun, junho and chan for pointing something out that was wrong and disrespectful. Its just what you do.

[lysblack.livejournal.com]

i honestly don't get why 2PM is getting hate out of this, they didn't say anything wrong and me coming from a country where floods are a constant that kill many don't find those sort of 'trolling' as the block b fans call it funny at all, and put all this to blame on the 2pm boys is also not amusing.

however the disbandment petition is incredible uncalled from and hottest, along with those who also like to pretend to be part of fanclubs to bring hate to the group, should sit the fuck down.

[lcbarnes.livejournal.com]

thank you. what 2PM said was true imo. sometimes i wonder about the rational thinking process of some of the posters out there. then again, with some of these post, there may be no such thing as rational thinking. but the hottest are going waay to far with the petition. i am no fan of block b, but they shouldn't quit because of this. kpop delirium at its finest i see.

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

What did he say?

[uledy.livejournal.com]

What is this behavior? It's so un-idol like. They come across as obnoxious, rude, insensitive jerks in this interview. Although what they said was tasteless and inappropriate for the setting, I am attracted to their behavior only for the fact that it's not robotic and predictable. I kind of like seeing my idols not sitting up straight, with perfect posture, and hands crossed delicately across their laps saying a memorized script and appearing clone-like. Now, they completely went about this the wrong way, took it too far, insulted their host country, and made themselves look like fools. But I wouldn't mind seeing a lesser degree of that unbridled spirit in my K-pop.

[es2pido.livejournal.com]

I will just roll my eyes counterclockwise and comment no further.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

I don't like Zico but the comment was about him being broke and not about Thailand. And he's already apologised. He was rude and when it comes to this stuff it should be a joking matter but smh at some of the reactions.

As for Hottest and Khun:
“Some people think it’s weird that so many disasters are happening all around the world. The Earth is just trying to rearrange its shape. Think about the way you rearrange your bedroom. You change the settings of things,you buy some and throw some away. It’s the cycle of life.”

So why don't you keep your so rigetous indignation to yourselves hottest.

[uledy.livejournal.com]

yup and as someone who was there during the earthquake and tsunami, this made me livid.

[ongew.livejournal.com]

they're so immature i can't. i applaud 2PM for standing up. and hottest, please stfu, you're making us all look like dicks. smh at everyone rn. except 2PM.

[hpn88.livejournal.com]

And to all the peeps side-eyeing Khun, there IS a difference between choosing the wrong words for genuine sentiments and making light of a situation in a flippant manner.

[raved.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly. For some reason, people don't seem to understand this.

[eishastan.livejournal.com]

LMFAO at this dumb nobodies digging their own graves, they are rookies, nugus and flops so i don't get where they get that attitude from, they could learn some manners from the real big shots of the industry, now i can't stand to watch their arrogant faces on stage without making me squirm.

Good job Block B in ruinning.. oh wait! they have nothing to ruin since they haven't acomplished anything, and still they have this attitude like they are the shit.

[ongew.livejournal.com]

Preach.