K-pop star Rain has found himself at the center of online discussion after a misunderstanding with a deaf fan during his concert in Taipei went viral, prompting the singer to issue a heartfelt public apology.
The incident occurred at Rain’s concert at Taipei Arena, where he was actively hyping up the crowd and encouraging fans to sing and dance along. While scanning the front row, Rain noticed one fan who was filming him on her phone rather than participating. He called her out on the spot, asking why she wasn’t dancing.
The fan attempted to explain by pointing to her ears and saying something, but Rain appeared unable to understand her response. He continued urging her to sing along and even counted down, yet the situation remained unresolved. Rain eventually walked away, visibly frustrated, a moment that was later captured and widely shared online.
The following day, the fan took to Threads to explain what had happened, tagging Rain in her post. She revealed that she has a hearing impairment and could not hear or fully understand what Rain or the interpreter was saying at the time. She also shared that she does not use sign language and worried that her reaction may have seemed rude or disrespectful.
Rain later saw the post and personally responded with an apology. He admitted that he had not realized she was deaf and acknowledged that his behavior during the moment was not considerate enough. Notably, Rain also mentioned that the day she shared her explanation happened to be her birthday, offering her birthday wishes and thanking her sincerely for attending his concert.
The singer described the incident as a valuable learning experience and promised to be more attentive and mindful of fans with disabilities at future performances. While some netizens questioned the timing of his apology, the majority praised Rain for taking responsibility and addressing the situation directly with humility.
The episode has since sparked broader conversations online about inclusivity and awareness at large-scale concerts, with many applauding the positive outcome and mutual understanding that followed.
Sources: Koreaboo