Fans lodge formal complaint over Alex Lee’s behaviour towards singer Seolhyun
RACHEL.BLUNDY@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Wednesday, 23 March, 2016, 1:00pm
Alex Lee moves in to hug AOA’s Seolhyun. Photo: RTHK/YouTube
A Hong Kong DJ has sparked outrage after an inappropriate cuddle with a South Korean girl band star onstage at the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival.
Alex Lee has incurred the wrath of AOA fans after his creepy embrace of singer Kim Seol-hyun, known as Seolhyun, after her group’s performance.
Commenting on the festival’s theme of ‘Embrace Asian Music’, he put his arms around the 21-year-old’s waist and grinned, before closing his eyes, making a kissing motion and raising his leg against her.
Seolhyun puts her arm out as Lee puckers up for a kiss. Photo: RTHK/YouTube
Seolhyun, who instantly put one arm out and her hand across her chest, struggled to maintain a smile as the festival co-host appeared to get a little too close for her comfort.
Following the awkward encounter, he told her: “Seolhyun, I love you. You are pretty.”
Turning to another band member on his right, as some audience members shrieked at his behaviour, he quipped; “You are pretty too, but I love [Seolhyun] more.”
AOA on stage after the awkward incident. Photo: RTHK/YouTube
Now AOA’s fans are demanding a full apology from Lee, saying the “rude behaviour” has “damaged the image of Hong Kong and impaired AOA’s impression of Hong Kong”.
In a letter to RTHK and the festival’s organisers which was published on Facebook over the weekend, the AOA Taiwan fan club said: “These actions clearly showed his ill-mannered treatment to a lady.
“Please take this issue seriously as the issue is now spreading globally. We request Mr Lee to make a public apology to Seolhyun and a reasonable reply before March 28. Otherwise we will take further action.”
The Post has contacted Alex Lee and festival organisers the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (Hong Kong) for comment.
In an interview with Apple Daily, Lee defended his actions, saying he had asked the group’s translator beforehand whether one of them would accept a hug from him.
He told the newspaper he had “gently” hugged Seolhyun because of the festival’s ‘Embrace Asian Music’ theme. He said he was “sorry” for any offence caused, but added he was “so happy” following the hug.
FNC Entertainment, which represents AOA, has also been contacted for comment.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1929393/rthk-dj-sparks-outrage-rude-behaviour-south-korean-girl-band-aoas
