Fans Call On SM Entertainment To Stop Disrespecting Chinese Idols

SM Entertainment recently released new WayV, the China-based unit of NCT, merchandise, including a “Kick Back” M/V Scene Kit.

The product is essentially a diorama of one of the scenes from WayV’s “Kick Back” music video. Fans noticed that all the members are standing except for WinWin who appears to be kneeling. Kneeling is of great significance in Chinese culture as they rarely kneel. The exceptions include kneeling before gods, ancestors, or when desperate, such as begging mercy when threatened, etc.

| SMTOWN

As a result, fans are bringing attention to this issue. They call on the company to better educate themselves and respect their idols’ culture.

SM ya’ll better kneel to dong sicheng as an apology cause we won’t take anything lesser than that for this disrespect winwin deserves better !¡#SM_Respect_Winwin#SMStopTheDisrespect@SMTOWNGLOBAL pic.twitter.com/ysWd1swnkc

— ???????????????????????????? (@aintkring) April 19, 2021

Fans have been mass-emailing and trending #SMStopTheDisrespect on Twitter, hoping to bring about change. Additionally, they have requested that the product be removed from all platforms. If any M/V Scene Kits that depict WinWin kneeling have already been sold, they demand that they be recalled, and customers be refunded.

Statement from WINWINBAR

Please help send sn email to the company mailbox:

1⃣protect@smtown.com
2⃣labelv@qq.com

Using the following template: https://t.co/LKpb2lqwOR#SM_Respect_Winwin#SMStopTheDisrespect pic.twitter.com/m5JUNIkfbD

— Little Flower (@DongsichengVN) April 19, 2021

SM Entertainment has seemingly removed the product from their online store as requested. However, no official statement has been released in regards to the issue.