As anticipation grows for SM Entertainment’s next boy group, one of its SM Rookies is already caught in controversy, though fans are now rallying to his defense.
On April 2, an anonymous post surfaced online alleging that Nicholas, one of the trainees in the upcoming SMR 25 pre-debut lineup, was involved in inappropriate behavior. The post included two images: one supposedly showing him smoking at a nightclub, and another with an unidentified woman, suggesting romantic involvement.
“He hasn’t even debuted yet, and he’s already acting like a fool… What kind of idol is this?” wrote the original poster, adding, “Is this the American style?”
However, within hours, internet users began to debunk the claims. They quickly traced the nightclub image back to a public post on lifestyle app XHS, originally shared in 2024. The photo did not mention Nicholas and appeared to be unrelated to any SM trainee.
The second photo, allegedly showing Nicholas with a girl, was also proven to be digitally altered from its original version.
According to Koreaboo, following the exposure of these fabrications, the original accuser deleted the post, but the controversy had already caught fans’ attention. Many responded with outrage over the targeted attack on a trainee who has yet to make his official debut.
- “Why are people going this far with a trainee? Seriously, it’s disgusting…”
- “Stop stepping on someone who hasn’t even debuted yet. You’ll get hit with karma. Looks like someone’s writing up a document.”
- “But really, why are they doing this? Seriously, why…? Why are they putting in so much effort to edit photos and ruin him? And for a trainee who hasn’t even debuted? There are really some unbelievable people in this world.”
SM Entertainment has yet to issue a formal statement, but the incident has sparked broader conversations about the pressures and scrutiny K-pop trainees face even before stepping into the spotlight. Fans now call for stronger protections against malicious rumors, especially as the company ramps up promotions for SMR 25.
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