Koyote Shinji Cancels Performance After Backlash Over Declining 'KT Wiz' First Pitch

Koyote member Shinji has decided to cancel her group's scheduled celebratory performance following backlash from some fans after she revealed she had declined a first-pitch offer from the professional baseball team KT Wiz.

On July 14, Koyote's agency, JG Star, released an official statement saying, "We have humbly accepted the concerns and voices of KT Wiz fans, and have reached an amicable agreement with the team to cancel the celebratory performance that was scheduled for August 2."

The controversy began when Shinji recently shared behind-the-scenes footage of a KT Wiz home game event on her YouTube channel. At the time, Shinji said, "Koyote was recently invited to perform at the KT baseball stadium. I gladly accepted because it was a performance after the game. The CEO told me we also received an offer for a first pitch, but I said it would be difficult because I am a fan of the Hanwha Eagles."

Shinji, well-known as a Hanwha Eagles fan, added regarding the first-pitch offer, "I did not know it was a game against Hanwha. I cannot be standing there wearing a Hanwha uniform, can I?" The video also included a caption that read, "Waiting for a Hanwha first pitch."

In response, some KT fans criticized her, saying, "It is disrespectful to accept an invitation to perform for the home team while declining the first pitch," and "Her remarks mentioning the opposing team were inappropriate."

The agency stated, "We were first offered a special celebratory performance by the KT Wiz team to be held after the game, and we decided to participate because we believed it was an opportunity for Koyote to bring joy to the spectators, regardless of which team we support. During the coordination process, a personal first-pitch offer for Shinji was added. Shinji, known as a passionate fan of the Hanwha Eagles, felt that standing on the mound at a KT Wiz home game against the opposing team would be disrespectful to both the home and away fans and could cause emotional discomfort, so she politely declined only the first-pitch offer."

However, they apologized, saying, "In the process of uploading the related YouTube content, this context was not sufficiently conveyed, unintentionally causing misunderstanding and discomfort to KT Wiz fans. We will pay closer attention to all future communication with the public and our fans." 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)