[K-Pop Focus] tripleS' Hyerin Exposes Hateful DM, Responds to 'Bottom-Tier Popularity' Slam

Hyerin, a member of the K-pop girl group tripleS, recently exposed a harsh message she received on a fan communication platform. The message not only criticized her popularity within the group but also questioned her dedication as an idol. Instead of ignoring the direct attack, she chose to respond personally, causing the exchange to quickly spread among fans.

Slammed for 'Bottom-Tier Popularity' – Message Content Revealed

The original post indicated that the message was sent directly to Hyerin. The sender mentioned that she was one of the first tripleS members to be revealed, yet claimed she hadn't reached the same level of popularity as later-revealed members. They even used fan site update statuses and offline event participation to question her dedication.

"Your popularity in the group is basically at the bottom. Even though you were the first member to be revealed, you're still super unpopular. Have you ever considered that the problem might be with you? Members revealed later than you have become much more popular, but you don't seem to be genuinely trying. Your Chinese fan site stopped updating a long time ago, and even some Korean fan sites haven't participated in recent offline events, right?"

Hyerin Doesn't Ignore, Responds Personally: "I'll Keep Working Hard"

Faced with this sharp message, Hyerin chose to respond directly. She first stated, "Let's all take a look. Let's find my problems together." When another fan asked her, "Can't you just ignore stuff like this?" Hyerin replied that she chose to answer because she hoped the sender would also take some time to reflect on themselves.

Hyerin: "I'm not hurt, but I want to say something about this. I'll keep working hard, so please work hard on your own life too."

This interaction quickly spread among fans, with many criticizing the sender for sending such harsh words directly to an idol. Some fans also felt it was unfair to judge an idol solely based on popularity rankings and fan numbers, especially since Hyerin has consistently participated in tripleS activities since the group's debut.

Another netizen on X defended Hyerin, stating they couldn't believe someone would say such things to her and calling Hyerin one of the most hardworking and talented idols.

Some fans also briefly expressed their sadness, believing Hyerin shouldn't have to endure such attacks.

Hyerin's decision to publicize and respond to the message once again highlighted the pressure idols can face on fan communication platforms, and it also sparked a discussion among fans about how to view idol popularity and effort.