RIIZE Eunseok’s Bubble Message Draws Racism Controversy, Prompting Apology

RIIZE member Eunseok apologized through the fan communication platform Bubble on May 6, 2026, after a message he sent with a childhood photo drew criticism as racially derogatory. The issue became part of a wider RIIZE racism controversy after the May 5 post was deleted and screenshots circulated across social media and overseas communities.¹

The controversy centered on wording attached to a childhood image shared on Children’s Day in South Korea. Multiple Korean outlets reported that the phrase was criticized mainly by overseas fans as a term that could be read as demeaning toward Black people, while some domestic fans argued over context and language differences.²

Eunseok’s Bubble Message and Deletion

The disputed Bubble message was sent on May 5, 2026, when Eunseok shared a childhood photo with fans. Dispatch reported that the message was deleted shortly after it was sent, but criticism continued among international fans who viewed the expression as a racial slur.¹

News1, carried by Financial News, reported that the expression was attached to an image of Eunseok from childhood in which his skin appeared tanned. The report said the controversy spread through online communities after the message was removed.³

Sports Chosun also reported that screenshots of the deleted message circulated on social media and overseas communities. The report described debate within the global fandom, with overseas fans criticizing the expression as racially derogatory and some domestic fans pointing to context and language differences.²

The available reports do not state that Eunseok issued the original message through a public social media account. They identify Bubble, a paid fan communication service, as the platform where the post and later apology appeared.¹

Apology Posted on May 6

Eunseok posted an apology through Bubble on May 6, 2026. Dispatch reported that he wrote, “I used the wrong expression while sending a photo from my childhood,” and added that he would “think and act more carefully.”¹

News1 reported a similar apology, quoting Eunseok as saying he was sorry to those who were made uncomfortable by his “short-sighted thinking and inappropriate choice of words.”³ Sports Kyunghyang also reported that Eunseok apologized directly after deleting the message, quoting him as saying he would be more careful in the future.⁴

Maeil Business Newspaper reported that Eunseok posted the apology in the afternoon of May 6 and quoted him as saying, “I sincerely apologize.” The outlet also noted that RIIZE had been carrying out its first world tour since 2025, giving additional context to the group’s international fan base.⁵

The statements reported by Korean media were short and focused on the wording of the Bubble post. The available source material does not include a separate company statement, disciplinary action, or a longer explanation from RIIZE’s agency. It also does not specify whether the deleted Bubble post was restored, reposted in edited form, or otherwise formally archived by the platform.

Global Fan Response and Current Status

The criticism was reported as especially visible among overseas fans. Dispatch said the objections came largely from international fans who argued that the wording demeaned a specific race.¹ iMBC Entertainment reported that the post raised concerns because the expression could be misunderstood as racist in the context of a global K-pop fandom.⁶

The controversy also showed how quickly private or semi-private fan platform messages can become public discussion points. Sports Chosun reported that although the message had been deleted, captured images spread beyond Bubble to social media and overseas communities.²

As of the reports published on May 6, 2026, the confirmed sequence is limited: Eunseok sent the childhood-photo message on May 5, deleted it soon after, faced criticism from fans who viewed the expression as racially derogatory, and posted an apology on Bubble on May 6. The available source material does not provide additional verified developments after the apology.

The incident remains defined by the Bubble message, its deletion, fan criticism, and Eunseok’s apology the following day. Based on the available reports, the public record centers on his acknowledgment of an inappropriate expression and his statement that he would be more careful going forward.

작성자 소개

Cloi Lee

Author

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