Gunil of Xdinary Heroes Addresses Controversy over Derogatory Remarks About Fans Following Departure

Gunil, the leader of the group Xdinary Heroes, has posted a lengthy statement regarding his departure from the group.

Following JYP Entertainment's official announcement on August 13 that Gunil would be leaving Xdinary Heroes, he shared a message through a fan platform, saying, "This will likely be my final greeting to you as a member of Xdiz (Xdinary Heroes). I truly wanted to remain an Xdiz member until the end and protect the six-member group, but as you know, I had no choice but to accept the company's decision."

Previously, controversy escalated after an individual claiming to be Gunil's ex-girlfriend posted an expository online post. In the post, the writer claimed that Gunil had vented frustrations toward fans after concerts, even making harsh remarks such as wanting to "slap them," frequently badmouthed fans in everyday life, and differed from his bright image on broadcast.

Addressing this, Gunil stated, "Since I am no longer a member of Xdiz, I don't want to hide the truth or make false excuses for myself." Regarding the individual who sparked the controversy, he explained, "We were introduced through an acquaintance and dated for about two weeks. At the time, I was mentally exhausted from ongoing malicious comments, false stories about me, and various concerns regarding Xdiz's music and performances. It felt more comfortable to pour out my bottled-up feelings to a stranger who didn't know me well rather than confiding in those close to me."

While acknowledging and apologizing for making the problematic remarks, Gunil also mentioned the circumstances at the time. He added, "Earlier this year, we experienced stalker fans breaking into our dormitory, and there was even an incident where a GPS tracker was attached to my personal vehicle. Going through such experiences led to a lot of fear and resentment toward certain malicious fans, and I was going through a mentally difficult time. As the leader and older brother, I couldn't easily talk about my fears or anxieties, so I tried my best to manage my emotions on my own."

Regarding the timing of the remarks, he pointed to the Inspire Arena concert held in June. Gunil stated, "We prepared with the mindset of giving Villains (the fandom name) the absolute best performance alongside the members, and after finishing the first day's concert, I checked social media with hopeful expectations. Seeing unexpected criticism and malicious comments caused me to break down emotionally. Not wanting to worry the company or the members, I couldn't easily share my feelings, and ultimately ended up venting accumulated emotions to someone I hadn't known for long, unhesitatingly blurting out harsh and wrong expressions."

Gunil acknowledged, "I never imagined that conversation would be recorded and made public," while adding, "Regardless of whether it was made public, I clearly recognize that the fact I uttered such words was wrong."

However, he drew a line regarding the targets of his remarks. He emphasized, "The targets of what I said out of emotion at the time were some malicious fans who hid behind anonymity to indiscriminately criticize us or infringe upon our privacy. It was never directed at all the Villains who trusted and supported us." He reiterated his apology, saying, "Because I have tried to show the image of a reliable and steadfast leader, the disappointment and sense of betrayal you felt from this incident must be all the greater. I am truly sorry for that."

Regarding his relationship with the members, he said, "If I were to say that I never once had any complaints about the members who always live together and share a large part of work and personal life, that too would be a lie." He added, however, "I can state without a shred of shame that during my promotions as Xdiz, I sincerely cherished and loved the members, and I was always grateful for the love Villains sent us." He also left the words, "The members were always people I was proud of, and Villains were always people I was grateful to."

Xdinary Heroes is a six-member band that debuted under JYP Entertainment in December 2021, and will continue activities as a five-member group following Gunil's departure.

(SBS Entertainment News Reporter Kang Kyung-yoon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.