NCT DREAM Mark’s Comments About Renjun’s Weight Earns Mixed Reactions From Fans

NCT DREAM‘s Mark Lee received mixed reactions from fans after commenting on Renjun and the other members’ weight and eating habits.

NCT DREAM’s Mark Lee | SM Entertainment NCT DREAM’s Renjun | SM Entertainment

NCT DREAM recently returned with “ISTJ,” from their third full album of the same name.

NCT DREAM | SM Entertainment

As part of promotions for the album, the group held special chatting events where fans could enter a chatroom with the group on the Lysn Bubble platform. On July 20, the first of these events took place.

During the chat, while discussing food, Mark tells Renjun to “gain some weight,” following up with, “My boys are all too skinny.”

 

Jisung: I like spicy foods. 
Haechan: Then have some “Spicy” by aespa
Mark: You need to gain some weight, Renjun
Haechan: …
Jisung: LOOOOOOOL
Jisung: I’ll be sure to eat all my meals
Haechan: Have some chewing gum
Mark: I like that, Jisung-ssi

The topic of weight has come up more than once with NCT DREAM — in the past, Jeno was criticized for negative comments about Haechan’s weight. Haechan and Chenle were recently under fire for commenting on Jeno’s physique.

so haechan bought coffee for all the dreamies and staff while they were shooting and jeno thanks him by complaining abt the size and calling him fat? pic.twitter.com/bcL4sS2f6u

— iris (@bbghyuck) November 25, 2022

Now imagine if this was the other way around pic.twitter.com/2A24OPiksU

— evai :3 (@3vforjn) July 1, 2023

Once the chat spread online, fans shared their mixed feelings.

On the one hand, many fans see Mark’s comments coming from a place of concern because rather than the fat shaming that often happens in the K-Pop industry, he encouraged Renjun and the members to eat more.

international fans need to realize that when koreans tell someone to gain weight, it’s a way of showing that they care/ are concerned. and let’s be real for a second, the dreamies have all looked thinner lately. renjun damn near passed out during the comeback live. mark loves… https://t.co/ZUITFouPym

— ????????²⁹ ???????????????? ✵ (@music_remedy33) July 20, 2023

Atp I’m annoyed. It kinda alr feels like a disrespect towards my own culture and language. What mark said is a common saying when voicing concern about someone’s health. NOT BODY IMAGE. It might be translated literally into “gaining weight” but it’s 100% NOT about weight omfg https://t.co/PWHfoOXdYV

— (@getswayfromade) July 20, 2023

Other fans feel like the topic of weight should not be brought up at all, even if the intentions were good.

mark shouldn’t comment on others weight even though it’s a sign of caring.. hope that he can reflect on his choice of words… if he doesn’t like ppl to comment about his weight on him, he shouldn’t do it too.

— #GoldenHour (@802vibe) July 20, 2023

dreamies stop talking about weight challenge FAILED MISERABLY like wdym we lost mark too now pic.twitter.com/vbl8hTq45o

— keeks ✘ yuta protector (@dprmilli) July 20, 2023