ILLIT to reselect fan club name after previous choice sparks controversy

Girl group ILLIT [BELIFT LAB]

ILLIT will reselect its fan club name after the previous choice, LILLYs, drew controversy.

“We have decided to revisit the matter upon reviewing various concerns that have emerged,” the girl group’s agency, Belift Lab, said in an announcement Monday.

ILLIT members originally unveiled the fan club name LILLY in a Weverse livestream on Sunday, referring to “wishes of everlasting love between ILLIT and its fans.” The moniker had been selected from various names provided by ILLIT's listeners.

The original name drew online criticism, however, for being similar to the name of NMIXX member Lily. ILLIT referred to fans as LILLYs in a tweet on Monday, hours after the livestream in an apparent name change. This title sparked its own share of controversy, however, for resembling “Lillies,” the name used by fans of Blackpink member Lisa.

“The new fan club name will be chosen among other shortlisted candidates and be announced at a later date. A naming contest will not be held this time,” the agency said.

ILLIT was formed through JTBC’s idol audition program “R U Next?” (2023) and debuted under Belift Lab, a HYBE subsidiary, in March with its first EP "Super Real Me." The group consists of members Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee and Iroha.

To find out more about ILLIT, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]