It isn’t uncommon for idols to face discrimination when performing or travelling in countries outside their own. For example, when the iconic K-pop group Stray Kids attended the Met Gala, some members of the press were openly rude and dismissive toward them. This kind of behaviour has been called out for years, and while progress has been made, incidents like this still happen.
On 2nd August (Saturday), the rising group BOYNEXTDOOR (보이넥스트도어) shared details of an alleged case of mistreatment during their time in the U.S. The incident quickly sparked concern among fans and industry watchers. It has also reignited discussions about the ongoing discrimination that non-Western artists continue to experience, both subtle and direct, when navigating global platforms.
Following their performance at Lollapalooza 2025 — one of the world’s biggest music festivals — BOYNEXTDOOR went live from their hotel room to share an unsettling experience. Earlier that day, they had eaten at a restaurant where something felt off. The group explained that they were already seated in a booth when they tried to place their order. They called over a waiter, but he had told them to wait and walked away to serve another table instead.
The same waiter eventually returned to pour their drinks, but when Riwoo (리우) told him they were ready to order, the waiter interrupted again, asked them to wait, and left. Member Leehan (이한) quickly called it out as discrimination. Afterwards, the group began discussing how restaurant roles can vary — with some staff responsible only for certain tasks — though the tone of the conversation suggested they questioned whether this was just a misunderstanding or something more deliberate.
ONEDOORs (BOYNEXTDOOR fans) were quick to voice their frustration online. Many fans argued that once seated, it’s standard courtesy to start taking orders and expressed concern that the group was being overlooked due to race or nationality. Others urged caution, noting that fans might lack full context — for example, certain restaurant staff aren’t tasked with taking orders, and the waiter could have simply been busy.
Even so, Leehan’s strong reaction raised concerns. It suggested that this may not have been the group’s first encounter with subtle racial profiling. Whether or not the restaurant intended to discriminate, the moment struck a chord with fans. It served as a reminder of the everyday challenges international artists still face when navigating unfamiliar spaces, even in casual, everyday settings.
Here is the full live, or skip to 15:51 for the recollection of the alleged discrimination:
Sources: Koreaboo, YouTube, Twitter
Zaima Humaria contributed to this article
