The K-Pop world isn’t new to controversies, and former Pristin member Seungyeon is the latest idol to be embroiled in one.
Pristin | Pledis Entertainment
Sungyeon’s new single, “I Know Ur Gay,” debuted with a teaser on TikTok, igniting a firestorm of mixed reactions. The song’s narrative, centering on a woman entangled with a homophobic lover, has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism for perceived homophobic elements.
The TikTok release, which has since been deleted, featured a 30-second snippet of ‘”I Know Ur Gay.” The lyrics, blending a sense of personal betrayal with societal commentary, start with a warning about homophobic partners and transition into a chorus that directly addresses the lover’s sexuality.
They say watch out when your boy’s homophobic
My f*cking bad I was blind for you
I should’ve known it
— Lyrics of “I Know Ur Gay”
| Pledis Entertainment
The song reflects the protagonist’s realization of her lover’s unfaithfulness, highlighted by changed behaviors such as the scent of his cologne.
Boy I know you’re gay gay gay
Wonder where I went wrong
For you to change change change
Why you fell out of love
— Lyrics of “I Know Ur Gay”
Former PRISTIN member Seungyeon teases new song ‘I Know Ur Gay’. pic.twitter.com/eNBZxjnJbN
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) December 12, 2023
On the surface, the song could be interpreted as supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, potentially serving as an anthem for those in similar situations. However, fans and netizens argue that the song contains problematic undertones.
| Pledis Entertainment
Firstly, the initial warning in the lyrics suggests that the woman is aware of her lover’s homophobic attitudes, yet chooses to overlook them.
first lyric is admitting to dating someone outwardly homophobic and u think i’m gonna stream ??? https://t.co/NF3eAyZ5KU pic.twitter.com/oJPOUAUUt1
— alora (@ihrtjwy) December 12, 2023
cishet women when they have to criticize a homophobic man without implying hes gay https://t.co/4vVwRSsULF pic.twitter.com/ReArQlfgHm
— megan⁷⁺¹² (@koobells) December 12, 2023
so her man was homophobic… she ignored that… and it turned out he was gay?? https://t.co/JNqQGgoQ2C pic.twitter.com/besWJNdcBE
— ? (@soullvrrs) December 12, 2023
Secondly, the song’s narrative thread has been interpreted as indicating that homophobia is a mask for suppressed queer feelings, a trope that some listeners find reinforces harmful stereotypes.
pushing the idea that someone who is homophobic is actually just “secretly gay” is in fact homophobic. just so we’re clear https://t.co/wrOFjd7YZ6
— (@omgeo7) December 12, 2023
i dont think shes an irredeemably horrible person or a raging homophobe but this is a subtle type of homophobia that even ppl who dont consider themselves homophobic fall into. didnt think it would be a big deal to point out considering a good chunk of kpoptwt is queer but alas
— (@omgeo7) December 12, 2023
Netizens have also expressed concern that the song implies a connection between homophobia and queer identity, potentially perpetuating the idea that queer individuals are responsible for their own oppression.
i know yall love being homophobic for laughs n giggles but this song is not it https://t.co/NcFTxreyRg
— audrey JIWOONG DAYYY (@bunnyhao_) December 12, 2023
only the lgbtq+ community should be writing songs about the community and not heterosexuals bc it just ends up sounding weird and homophobic https://t.co/R7ZncFnA0z
— ☆ (@hk2ai) December 12, 2023
Sungyeon, for her part, has stated that the song does not reflect her personal experiences. She has urged fans and critics alike to reserve judgment until the full single is released. Fans have also pointed out that her statement in itself is problematic.
Those lyrics…are not it. And the fact that its not even from own experience just makes it worse https://t.co/iN7jCAKoBw pic.twitter.com/7XVWJ1mxB2
— anni⁷ (@yoonsfairydust) December 12, 2023
1. even if she was talking about a specific person, it would still be homophobic 2. she confirmed she’s not speaking from experience which means she just played into a homophobic trope for fun pic.twitter.com/UHBDczki9c
— (@omgeo7) December 12, 2023
As the full release of Sungyeon’s single nears, the controversy surrounding “I Know Ur Gay” continues to draw attention and ignite fierce debates on different social media platforms, especially among Twitter users.
