Singer BoA addresses hate comments after recent 'Street Man Fighter' episode

BoA stars as a judge on Mnet's ″Street Man Fighter″ (2022-). [MNET]

Singer BoA shared her thoughts about the hate comments she has been receiving following the latest episode of Mnet’s “Street Man Fighter” (2022).

“It’s not like the judges choose which teams will battle against each other,” she wrote on her Instagram Wednesday. “I wonder if [people] would be less [angry] if Bank Two Brothers had been eliminated instead [...] It’s exhausting to think that it’s going to be like this every time.”

On Monday’s episode of the all-male street dance competition show, BoA appeared as a judge for the elimination battle between dance crews Bank Two Brothers (B2B) and Prime Kingz. The team that won three out of five rounds was set to survive.

When the three judges, including BoA, cast blank ballots during one of the rounds, the two crews were forced to face off once again. B2B won that round, which ultimately led to Prime Kingz being eliminated.

Fans took to BoA’s Instagram to express their anger with some saying it was “weird that the judges cast a blank ballot,” and asking, “why did you make them match again when you knew [Prime Kingz] was winning?” and “was it to get more screen time?”

Others left hate comments, saying “Why are you still a judge? Don’t you know better?,” “I can’t believe you think you’re in the position of judging others” and “You’re just a singer that can’t even dance.”

Some viewers have pointed out that fans are particularly angry at BoA because the show highlighted her more than the other judges, Super Junior’s Eunhyuk and 2PM’s Wooyoung, making it appear she had the power to choose which team was eliminated.

On Wednesday afternoon, SM Entertainment, BoA’s agency, said in a statement that it is gathering all the evidence of hate comments toward BoA and is preparing to take legal action against those who posted them.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]