Mingyu of SEVENTEEN drank fan's vodka on stage.
This ignited safety concerns and fan disparity criticism.
He also faced backlash for a shooting range post.
Mingyu from SEVENTEEN, typically adored for his charming and friendly demeanor, has found himself in hot water, facing a wave of intense criticism from fans worldwide. The backlash has been particularly vocal from Southeast Asian (SEA) CARATs, who have expressed deep disappointment over a series of recent events, accusing the idol and his management of a double standard in how concerts and fan interactions are handled in different regions.
This has sparked a significant conversation about safety, responsibility, and perceived preferential treatment. So, how did the criticism toward Mingyu start? Letâs find out!
Source: Instagram/min9yu_k
A Sip of Vodka and a Flood of Criticism
The controversy start during SEVENTEEN's "Follow" encore concert in Austin, Texas, on October 21, 2025. While the show was a dream come true for many, a specific fan interaction has since overshadowed the event.
A video that went viral captured Mingyu engaging with fans near the barricade. He was seen reading a sign that said, âWanna party with us? Drink with us!â and, after a moment of laughter, he inquired about the contents of a plastic cup a fan was holding. Upon being told it was vodka, Mingyu had a staff member hand him the cup, which he then proceeded to sip from before downing the rest of its contents on stage.
This seemingly spontaneous moment quickly turned into a major point of contention. Fans erupted in anger for several key reasons. Primarily, there was widespread concern for Mingyu's personal safety.
Accepting and consuming an open drink from a stranger, regardless of the setting, was deemed a serious security risk. Netizens were quick to reference past incidents in K-pop, like TVXQ's Yunho, who was hospitalized after drinking a juice box containing super glue from a fan.
"This is so dangerous⌠What if they put drugs in thereâŚ" and "This is so insensitive for safetyâŚ"
"itâs really disappointing that mingyu accepted the drink, and i hope it doesnât happen again. thank god nothing bad happened, but this shouldnât be normalized :(( itâs never okay to accept unsealed food or drinks from strangers even if theyâre fans. boundaries exist for a reason, and mingyu, as a grown man, should know better. itâs for his own safety after all. i hope mingyu and the other members learn from this so it can be avoided in the future."
"i need every carats to be loud on this. we need to remind not just mingyu but every member to be extra cautious when accepting any drink from us, you shouldnât even give them liquor while theyâre literally still performing you dumb fucks."
Secondly, the incident raised questions about venue security and regulations. How was a fan able to bring a cup of alcohol so close to the stage, and why was it handed to an artist? This led to outrage over the perceived lax security at U.S. shows compared to the notoriously strict rules enforced at concerts in Asia, especially in Southeast Asian countries.
This disparity fueled accusations of "preferential treatment" for Western fans.
"Ewwww, Iâve never been this disappointed in you guys. You go all out with fanservice in the US, but when it comes to Asia (especially SEA), your agency treats us like weâre a problem.. and constantly reminding us about fan etiquette.â
"to asian fans wondering why / how they could bring liquor inside the venue, itâs because we/ the venues sell alcohol inside đ like the stalls have food and drinks which includes beers/alcohols!"
The fact that alcohol was readily available for purchase inside the venue, while legal, added another layer to the debate about the appropriateness of the entire situation.
Source: Instagram/min9yu_k
A Shot at the Range and a Barrage of Online Fire
Compounding the alcohol-related backlash, Mingyu was already under scrutiny for a separate incident just a day prior. He had posted photos and videos on his Instagram from a visit to a legal shooting range in Los Angeles. The now-deleted post included images of firearms, bullets, and Mingyu himself taking aim.
The post immediately drew sharp criticism from netizens who felt that showcasing guns was insensitive and tone-deaf, particularly given the ongoing global issues with gun violence. One viral post on X captured the sentiment of critics, captioning Mingyu's photos with: âbreaking news: svt mingyu promoting gn violence in recent insta post.â
The backlash was so intense that the original post was eventually deleted from X account. However, this action also spurred a strong defense from a segment of his fanbase. Many CARATs rushed to his defense, arguing that the post was being taken out of context. They clarified that he was simply sharing an experience at a legal, regulated facility, a common recreational activity in the U.S.,and was in no way promoting violence. Supporters pointed out that the Instagram carousel also included other, non-controversial photos from his time on tour, and they criticized the "hate train" for misrepresenting his intentions.
Despite the swirling controversies and the clear divide in fan reactions, Mingyu and SEVENTEEN's agency, Pledis Entertainment, have yet to release an official statement addressing either the on-stage drinking incident or the shooting range post. The silence has left the fandom in a state of flux, with CARATs worldwide waiting to see if and how their favorite idol will respond to the growing disappointment and concern.
Source: Koreaboo, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok/gyulguuu, pannchoa, theqoo
Iâm not surprised. Sometimes these idols act without thinking at all.
Let the man drink his vodka in peace, he probably needed it after all those tour stops 