{"id":731,"date":"2025-09-17T02:35:03","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T02:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/?p=731"},"modified":"2025-09-18T10:11:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T10:11:09","slug":"choi-siwon-faces-backlash-after-tribute-to-charlie-kirk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/choi-siwon-faces-backlash-after-tribute-to-charlie-kirk\/","title":{"rendered":"Choi Siwon Faces Backlash After Tribute to Charlie Kirk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Super Junior\u2019s Choi Siwon recently tried to clarify his tribute to Charlie Kirk after fans criticized him heavily. He posted on the fan platform Bubble on September 12, saying he paid tribute because Kirk was a Christian, a father, and a husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said it was sad that Kirk lost his life to gun violence while speaking to many college students. Siwon added that he did not intend a political message, but one of sympathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image uagb-block-dce3e9d8 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-none\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-14-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-732\" width=\"664\" height=\"437\" title=\"Screenshot (14)\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-8ae9a177\"><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/choi-siwon-faces-backlash-after-tribute-to-charlie-kirk\/#What_Sparked_the_Backlash_on_Choi_Siwon\" title=\"What Sparked the Backlash on Choi Siwon?\">What Sparked the Backlash on Choi Siwon?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/choi-siwon-faces-backlash-after-tribute-to-charlie-kirk\/#Netizen_Responses_to_Choi_Siwon\" title=\"Netizen Responses to Choi Siwon\">Netizen Responses to Choi Siwon<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/choi-siwon-faces-backlash-after-tribute-to-charlie-kirk\/#Fan_Demands_and_Group_Reputation\" title=\"Fan Demands and Group Reputation\">Fan Demands and Group Reputation<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/choi-siwon-faces-backlash-after-tribute-to-charlie-kirk\/#Why_Did_Siwons_Actions_Become_a_Bigger_Issue\" title=\"Why Did Siwon&#8217;s Actions Become a Bigger Issue?\">Why Did Siwon&#8217;s Actions Become a Bigger Issue?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Sparked_the_Backlash_on_Choi_Siwon\"><\/span>What Sparked the Backlash on Choi Siwon?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The tribute stirred strong reactions because Charlie Kirk was not a neutral figure. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/how-charlie-kirk-helped-shape-a-conservative-force-for-a-new-generation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Kirk founded the conservative group Turning Point USA<\/a> and was known for controversial remarks tied to race, gender, and politics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many netizens felt that by calling him a \u201cgood and faithful servant\u201d and posting religious and memorial content, Siwon was endorsing those views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Netizens also pointed out a pattern in Siwon\u2019s past. Previous controversies included his liking of a post opposing Hong Kong pro-democracy protests and content opposing same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Critics say these actions raise questions about whether his beliefs align with conservative or religious perspectives in ways that conflict with what global fans expect from K-pop idols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-4b4f9a71\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Netizen_Responses_to_Choi_Siwon\"><\/span>Netizen Responses to Choi Siwon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the reactions from Korean netizens:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some said they would understand if Siwon had mourned all victims of gun violence, not only Kirk. They felt that selective mourning sends a message.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Others questioned the sincerity of Siwon\u2019s explanation, wondering why he had not posted similar tributes for non-Christian or non-politically controversial victims.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There were comments about religion being used to justify or mask political alignment. Some netizens wrote that calling someone a \u201cfaithful servant\u201d in religious terms can imply ideology, primarily when that person is known for political activism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A few told Siwon to stay quiet rather than issue explanations. Others thought his statement just made things more confusing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-d1778814\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fan_Demands_and_Group_Reputation\"><\/span>Fan Demands and Group Reputation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the backlash has grown louder, some fans are asking that Siwon leave Super Junior. Hashtags like #SIWON_OUT are appearing as symbols of dissatisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fans argue that public figures in K-pop have a responsibility. They say global fandoms expect neutrality, especially when it comes to politics or commentary with a religious tint. When idols take public stands, real or perceived, they risk alienating parts of their fanbase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-ff8b3730\"><h2 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Did_Siwons_Actions_Become_a_Bigger_Issue\"><\/span>Why Did Siwon&#8217;s Actions Become a Bigger Issue?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This situation matters because K-pop entertainers now operate globally. Their statements travel fast. Any tribute or post can be interpreted in many ways depending on the cultural or political context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Siwon\u2019s faith is clearly part of his identity. That gives him the right to express personal beliefs. But when those expressions touch on politically charged figures, it becomes more complex. Fans often read these as statements beyond personal sympathy. That is especially true when the person honored has expressed contentious views themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, deleting the post and then explaining can sometimes exacerbate the situation. It can look like reactive damage control. Some fans might trust more if the message were consistent from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/\" title=\"Saranghero\">Saranghero<\/a><\/strong> for the latest in K-pop and K-drama news. Stay tuned for more updates on stories like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Super Junior\u2019s Choi Siwon recently tried to clarify his tribute to Charlie Kirk after fans criticized him heavily. He posted [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kdrama","category-kpop"],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-14-1.png",664,437,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-14-1-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-14-1-300x197.png",300,197,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-14-1.png",664,437,false],"large":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-14-1.png",664,437,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-14-1.png",664,437,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-14-1.png",664,437,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Paola","author_link":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/author\/paolalimingmail-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":1,"uagb_excerpt":"Super Junior\u2019s Choi Siwon recently tried to clarify his tribute to Charlie Kirk after fans criticized him heavily. He posted [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=731"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":733,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731\/revisions\/733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}