Needless to say, K-pop fans are totally divided on this one. And by K-pop fans, we mean actual K-pop fans versus Lucas’ fans a.k.a. Lumis.
News of ex-NCT and ex-WayV member Lucas re-debuting as a solo artist began circulating earlier this week, especially after being spotted watching the “SMTOWN Live 2024 – SMCU Palace @Tokyo” at Japan’s Tokyo Dome, and his fans finding Lucas’ new official Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Since his departure from NCT and WayV, the Hong Kong rapper kept a low profile on his social media and occasionally posted snippets of his life. However recently, Lucas has been seen attending some of his fellow SM artists’ events, such as Ten’s solo debut showcase and SHINee’s Key’s solo concert.
Then on February 23, 2024, Lucas posted an image of what seems to be his new profile photo on his personal Instagram account, tagging his newly established Instagram account under SM Entertainment. This sent his fans into a state of excitement, immediately sending in messages and comments saying that they would support him in his upcoming debut.
View this post on Instagram
On February 24, 2024 (Korean standard time), SM Entertainment released the documentary titled “Freeze” on Lucas’ YouTube channel, where he gave a glimpse of how his life has been since the eruption of his scandal.
In the documentary, Lucas talked about the mistakes he had made in his life and directly spoke about his mental health and thoughts of suicide during that time. He had also revealed how he had spent 6 months in his own home, refusing and shutting down people from interacting with him.
Lucas also briefly touched on the subject of his controversy, with him saying, “It was all my fault. Had I not done that, this wouldn’t have happened,” and “I haven’t been able to say this properly once but, I feel so sorry. I’ve done a terrible thing. I feel so sorry that I let everyone down. Nothing can justify what I’ve done. Now, my views have changed, I learned a lot, I realized many bad things about myself.”
Following the release of the first part of his documentary, K-pop fans were in an uproar because of the stark difference that was given to other K-pop idols who have done lesser wrong-doings but still had to pay the price with the removal of their careers. Lucas’ fellow SM artists who had also gone through a period of hiatus were compared to him as well, while they were just allowed by SM Entertainment to get eaten by online hate and misinformation, whereas Lucas received preferential treatment.
K-Pop fans also pointed out that Lucas himself admitted to the things he was accused of.
I hope we do not water this issue down with jokes. Every time we joke about him being untalented as fuck. We also tweet what he did to women. Because him being a sex offender is a bigger issue than him dancing off beat.
— 🦄 (@HenderyEnjoyer) February 24, 2024
And now his stans would weaponize mental health. News flash sex offenders do not deserve any ounce of compassion or empathy.
— 🦄 (@HenderyEnjoyer) February 24, 2024
“it was all my fault, had i not done that.” https://t.co/zar2fG98wR pic.twitter.com/80AdepeVl9
— ً (@aesdive) February 24, 2024
The audacity to paint him as the victim and making up stories that he was proven innocent even when his apology and SM’s statement acknowledged that he did something wrong. And now his fucking documentary straight from his mouth admitting it. Morally deplorable.
— 🦄 (@HenderyEnjoyer) February 24, 2024
kpop stans are another level of brainwashed and disturbing because he is literally admitting what crimes he has done and their first thought is "we are so sorry we didn't protect you🥺". are you hearing yourselves?????????? https://t.co/roLcGffuua
— sara sara. (@svteenwrld) February 24, 2024
https://twitter.com/wayvline/status/1761360009118581214?s=20
So Soojin gets her life ruined, her career and mental health torn apart while left alone to pick up the pieces over false allegations of smoking and bullying while this fuckass admits he’s to a crime and gets a documentary. Korea is very twisted sometimes https://t.co/CYXvcD0qkE
— LIL WAIST (@lilwaisttty) February 24, 2024
he’s sorry he got caught. https://t.co/ZKKEtzBzxg
— ʚïɞ (@woongtism) February 24, 2024
this feels unreal. i want to know so bad why sm gives him this opportunity to have an entire documentary, why is he SO important to sm when others have been kicked and forgotten about? what importance really was he to be given multiple chances?? im confused https://t.co/k3pHiJ8yio
— 🐳 (@dejunslay) February 24, 2024
irene apologised even before word got out, she apologised 4 times, got defended by 60+ staff members meanwhile the stylist wrote love poems about her in 2015 and is now getting scammed by her own relatives.
if you want to play moral police go hop on her gofund me! https://t.co/2tdA5BnLZY pic.twitter.com/WALAIq0fWb
— rain (@redfl4vour) February 25, 2024
yall got TWO confessions im cryinggg https://t.co/xptix2Hpf2
— jesus would've loved csr (@fromisely) February 24, 2024
Didn't Lucas allegedly sexually assault someone and now SM is bringing him back because???? And they're posting stuff about him feeling bad to make young girls feel pity for him and get his popularity up again 🧍 correct me if I'm wrong, but this is sick and twisted pic.twitter.com/PI0w2ZzeNN
— ♡*:。ri。:*♡ (@astarionsboob) February 25, 2024
Lumis, on the other hand, are adamant in claiming Lucas’ innocence over the issues that have been glossed over.
Always with LUCAS 🤍 pic.twitter.com/sKl8xiZs9B
— 🍀 (@yukheismile) February 25, 2024
https://twitter.com/vivikittyz/status/1761614266203812062?s=20
https://twitter.com/youngerrod/status/1761694912452431994?s=20
i miss him 🥹😭 pic.twitter.com/DQuozPk8fh
— lucas pics (@wyukheipics) February 25, 2024
WOW @SMTOWNGLOBAL NEED TO RELEASE LUCAS SOLO ASAP I GUESS ANTIS WILL CONTRIBUTE A LOT FOR THE STREAMING LATER 😻😻😻 pic.twitter.com/Vv0X2TVrfO
— 𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐚𝜗𝜚 (@eyesmilejenos) February 25, 2024
So i watched Lucas's documentary…
I'm so sad he went through so much it was so bad to the point where he wanted to just end it all. He misses his members so much he feels sorry for them and he feels as if he let them down. He looks empty, drained, tired. His happy self is gone pic.twitter.com/SEx6WFrlzH— ♡HAOJUI♡ (@AlmohamadBeesan) February 25, 2024
Stop being sad and let's enjoy the handsomeness of Lucas that we haven't seen for 3 years🥶 pic.twitter.com/fAiHKLJy2M
— 𝐃 (@cheesebrown_) February 25, 2024
If Lucas really did what he was accused of, wouldn't his career be ruined? It's not like the Chinese government would let it pass. We have Kris Wu as an example of that.
— vivi gozo presidiária (@haechaprexecudo) February 25, 2024
“ i stayed only in my room for about 6 months. I didn’t want to do anything ” 🙁
Thank you for holding on all this time. Thank you for coming back Lucas (づᴗ_ᴗ)づ♡#LUCAS pic.twitter.com/khzaEECVuy— wonu’s 친구 (@butterflywonwoo) February 24, 2024
god take me and bring lucas smiling again please…#LUCAS pic.twitter.com/Qwzaazfw2X
— andie tripleS 1st win (@zhousafica) February 25, 2024
I just realized again that this photo is a sign that he has started to rise up and he choose not to give up 😭#LUCAS #루카스버블 pic.twitter.com/hY4rSx3fh7
— ؘ (@grapeisn) February 24, 2024
What are your thoughts on this?
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