Red Velvet’s recently found herself at the center of heated online debate after a photo from her solo concert in the U.S. surfaced and quickly went viral. The image, posted on a popular online forum, appeared to show a significant number of empty seats at her October 30 show prompting harsh commentary from some netizens.
This wasn’t the first time K-pop acts have struggled to fill venues overseas, and the conversation quickly expanded beyond just one artist. Wendy had already canceled her scheduled Atlanta stop earlier, and her remaining dates reportedly suffered from slow ticket sales. Many fans pointed fingers at her agency, citing overpriced tickets and a clear lack of promotion.
Despite the chatter, a large portion of the online community rushed to Wendy’s defense. Fans emphasized that the success of a concert isn’t solely measured by attendance. “It’s not like she didn’t try — even aespa didn’t sell out every show,” one user pointed out. Another wrote, “So what if the venue wasn’t full? Wendy looked genuinely happy, and so did the fans. That’s what matters.”
Comparisons to other top-tier artists also emerged. “Only IU has managed to completely fill a U.S. tour as a female soloist. Even Jennie couldn’t,” noted one comment, highlighting the immense difficulty of such feats even for big-name stars.
Others criticized the double standards in the industry. “She’s being mocked while male idols or other groups face far less heat for the same issue,” one fan argued. “Why is Wendy being singled out?”
Ultimately, Wendy’s solo venture regardless of ticket sales represents a major personal milestone and a connection point with her fans. The overwhelming support she received online proves one thing: for many, it’s not about numbers, but about heart, presence, and the joy shared between an artist and their audience.
Sources: Pann