This is why it’s important to know the significance of different symbols in history.
Earlier on March 21, 2023, TWICE’s Chaeyoung posted a photo of herself on Instagram, wearing a Sid Vicious T-Shirt with a visible Swastika symbol on the front. Upon seeing the post, ONCEs were quick to voice their discontent and grievances towards the TWICE member and her ignorance.
Anti-semetism in kpop is way too overlooked. Chaeyoung wearing a q-anon AND a nazi shirt two days in a row, BOTH BEING ANTI SEMETIC, STOP hiding this and mind you these her OWN clothes pic.twitter.com/YMYcUFgTiT
— nar (@nrknation) March 21, 2023
tw nazi symbol/swastika..
–
–
not only did chaeyoung wear this shirt once, she OWNS it and has worn it more than once. and this shirt is extremely hard to get… it’s not something you get for $5 in a gift shop or something. this is flabbergasting and disgusting pic.twitter.com/g4W1sgZc2v— ⚢ (@lesbolvr) March 21, 2023
im tired of kpop fans because why am i seeing people trying to cover up the fact that chaeyoung posted a photo of herself wearing a shirt with a swastika on it TODAY pic.twitter.com/xCYlpNaBkT
— cam !! (@iQuackbur) March 21, 2023
wearing n@zi symbols is so crazy 🤕 like why would you even buy this shit. chaeyoung … hell is hot bro pic.twitter.com/wvQVvZCPNu
— keke⁷ on the street 🪞 (@stallseok) March 21, 2023
https://twitter.com/mikrogalaxies/status/1638187253749915655?s=20
nobody is accusing chaeyoung of being a neo nazi, but being passive or not caring about wearing such a major hate symbol like that, ESPECIALLY as a public figure is still so insanely harmful. and so wrong like i can't even believe her
— trickster (@divahyune) March 21, 2023
there is literally no defending her atp… “punk activist band shirt” or whatever the hell you’re all saying is NO EXCUSE. it is a well known HATE SYMBOL and to see her so casually walking around in it is extremely disheartening.
— hiatus. (@loopschaeng) March 21, 2023
You can’t sit here and tell me chaeyoung don’t know what a n*zi symbol is at her big age…y’all try to make it seem like Koreans are babies like they learned abt WWII too…be so fr
— 🌹 (@rozayfairy) March 21, 2023
Im def unfollowing chaeyoung on insta idgaf if it’s punk , the holocaust and the 3rd reich is not cool or edgy and btw lot of punk are Neo nazi. The Qanon shirt was the stylist’s mistake but that shit is 100% her fault and don’t talk about being educated everyone know what is it pic.twitter.com/hxC9GReSMC
— Syrio IS SEEING SKZ (@BetterCallSyrio) March 21, 2023
Hours after posting and after seeing the fans’ reactions, Chaeyoung took down her post and then uploaded an apology in Korean and English.
“Hello, this is Chaeyoung from TWICE.
I sincerely apologize regarding the Instagram post. I didn’t correctly recognize the meaning of the tilted swastika in the t-shirt I wore.
I deeply apologize for not thoroughly reviewing it, causing concern. I will pay absolute attention in the future to prevent any situation similar from happening again.
Sincerely apologize again.”
ONCEs also thanked Chaeyoung for immediately seeing her mistake and for apologizing quickly. However, K-Pop fans are still alarmed at how problematic symbols can go overlooked in the K-Pop industry, beginning with stylists. Others also pointed out the differences between the apologies of Chaeyooung and Tzuyu, where the latter was subject to immense hate in 2016 for simply waving the flag of her homeland (Taiwan).
chaeyoung wears a symbol of 1 of the biggest genocide in history and gets off with a 6 sentence apology and maybe a slap on the wrist
meanwhile her own coworker had to cry on camera as a teen and apologize to an entire violently nationalist country. what message are you sending? https://t.co/1PdYDqHCzh
— ًً (@miubarfs) March 21, 2023
mind you this is the same shirt https://t.co/ay8Y3dhlIT pic.twitter.com/opoPAVXhYC
— genie | is going through it. (@cherry2yeon) March 21, 2023
Chaeyoung fans trying to defend her by saying its just Sid Vicious merch and that he used to wear nazi paraphernalia to shock people as if that’ll somehow make it any better for her. Sid also stabbed his girlfriend to death. He is not somebody you want on your shirt. https://t.co/UkBWZA6dSV
— 🙂 (@wntrwndrInd) March 21, 2023
To all the ONCEs trying to cover up this issue, I hope y'all don't sleep with both eyes closed. This goes BEYOND K-pop. Whether Chaeyoung is aware or not, she NEEDS to be informed why she can't casually wear clothing that displays the Nazi swastika. HOLD YOUR FAVES ACCOUNTABLE! https://t.co/32wvA7xUsb
— Queen Pinksweets 🍀 In need of a kiss (@QueenPinksweets) March 21, 2023
chaeyoung wore Nazi symbol at this point I can't defend her cuz they should know the history behind this but I don't know wtf ppl calling it swastika when it's fvkin hakenkreuz a nazi symbol fvkin go and read the difference. pic.twitter.com/7J6YAkn5dJ
— 🌟⁷|taehyung's military wife 🇮🇳💜💙 (@tetaebts_dz) March 21, 2023
people making chaeyoung out to be this stupid person to defend her for wearing an actual nazi symbol is sick, stop trying to hide this … we need to hold idols accountable or this will continuously keep happening, it’s not that hard.
— lea ִ ࣪𖤐 (@wandtzuyu) March 21, 2023
whatever uk punks in the 70s did is irrelevant in this conversation, we are talking about chaeyoung from twice in the year of 2023 using a nazi symbol be serious https://t.co/dcd3jMkx9j
— v (@reveinoir) March 21, 2023
please also note that the nazi symbol isn't just anti-semitic but also anti-ziganist. it's disgusting and as a romani person this entire subject genuinely makes me so mad. so if you're going to forgive chaeyoung, or faceclaim her after all this, do not talk to me ever again.
— NEW PINNED ! (@stlkgrl) March 21, 2023
jyp letting chaeyoung off easily with a six sentence apology meanwhile tzuyu had to film a public apology for waving the flag she was born in… she was only 16 years old. pic.twitter.com/yPAxS8ASYJ
— á (@STARSHlBAL) March 21, 2023
Chaeyoung casually strolling through the US with Nazi attire is so crazy like how badly educated can you be? Korean school system failed the whole nation it seems https://t.co/mCbwXzFy9T
— Icarus⁹❤️🔥💫 (@lyricisttzuyu) March 21, 2023
Chaeyoung posting a pic of her wearing a nazi symbol two days after she was wearing a qanon shirt…. I’m sorry this is so disgusting I’m so upset with her there is no excuse this is so nasty pic.twitter.com/hmB5Z3qu0v
— emma⁷ 🍬🧚🏻♀️ (@emma_withluv) March 21, 2023
chaeyoung grown as hell she know what a swastika is also two nazi propaganda shirts in one week.. like it's starting to not look like the stylists fault
— thee chaennie 🌹 MOTHERSOO MARCH (@sooyaIuvrr) March 21, 2023
Other POP! stories that you might like:
TWICE enters a powerful new era with ‘SET ME FREE’
TWICE unveils alluring group concept teasers for their upcoming release ‘READY TO BE’
TWICE’s first ever subunit ‘MISAMO’ set to debut on July
ONCEs are ‘Ready To Be’ hit with new music from TWICE
Twice snags ‘Breakthrough Artist’ award at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Festival