Choi Si-won of the group Super Junior expressed his stance after facing political controversy following his tribute to American right-wing activist Charlie Kirk's death.
On the 12th, Choi Si-won stated through the fan platform Bubble, "He was a Christian, the head of a family, and a husband. Regardless of the circumstances, losing his life to gunfire while giving a lecture in front of numerous college students is a tragic event that I believe transcends political views. That is why I paid tribute to him."
He added, "I appreciated the media attention after posting the tribute, but I felt that my intentions were being interpreted differently, so I decided to take down the post as I believed my insufficient feelings were not adequately conveyed."
Previously, on the 11th, Choi Si-won shared a post from pastor John Bevere and the Christian community 'Bible Alive' on his social media, paying tribute to Charlie Kirk.
The post included phrases such as "We mourn the death of Charlie Kirk, one of America's heroes. He was a resolute person who stood against evil," and "Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk," which sparked controversy over whether Choi Si-won was endorsing far-right views.
Netizens criticized his tribute, citing Kirk's history of making racist and misogynistic remarks. Some Super Junior fans even demanded Choi Si-won's departure from the group. In light of the controversy, Choi Si-won deleted the tribute post.
Charlie Kirk was the founder and president of the conservative organization 'Turning Point USA,' which publicly supported former President Donald Trump. He was shot and killed during a debate at Utah Valley University on the 10th (local time).
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
