On April 11, he took to Twitter to address a disgruntled fan. He used informal language in his post, which was also interspersed with a Hangul character which is commonly used to display laughter. “You haven't known me for that long, huh???,” he said. “Don’t like me as someone of the opposite sex.”
In the post, he notes that he had previously advised fans not to view him as a man or their boyfriend. “I’ve said this for a while, now. If you hate me for this, then bye.”
The Twitter post has since been removed but his statement has generated mix reactions from fans. Some fans have noted that the post he directly responded to contained racist language directed towards Shinozaki Ai, who is of Japanese descent. Shinozaki Ai is a 23-year-old gravure idol, a term used to describe Japanese models who primarily pose in swimsuits and revealing clothing. She transitioned to a music career, as a member of the idol group AeLL, and is also an actress.
The majority of fans who commented on the incident acknowledged his right to speak against criticism of rumors surrounding his romantic life. Others have expressed their disappointment at his use of informal language and harsh expression towards a fan.
Throughout his career as FTISLAND’s frontman, he has been continuously outspoken about fan’s perceptions of the group. He has gained a reputation for teasing and frankly speaking with FNC Entertainment’s founder, Han Sung Ho. One of the trending comments, as posted on Netizenbuzz referenced the way in which he is handled by Han. A forum user stated, “Now I know why his CEO said he did what he wanted judging by his manner of speech on Twitter.”
On April 10, FNC Entertainment clarified the dating rumors between the idols, after speaking with Lee Hong Ki. In an official statement reported by Enews, a representative for FNC acknowledged that the stars were friends due to the promotional activities of FTISLAND in Japan. The representative said, “During this time, we believe he got to know Shinozaki Ai through a local friend. They are friends who hang out with their friends.”
