The responses are scathing.
On a recent YouTube show, rapper pH-1 and content creator Malwang (also known as Horseking) got brutally honest about their pet peeves when it comes to fans asking to take pictures with them. Their opinions, however, have since been interpreted as them “talking sh*t” about their fans and earned scathing criticism online.
In the video, circulated via X with 4.1M views and counting, pH-1 explained how it frustrates him when fans who ask for selfies together have filters on. He added that when done in such a way, it doesn’t feel like he‘s the one posing in the picture.
They ask for a picture together, so I go over to pose. And then I see my face like- [filter] You know what I’m talking about, right? I mean… Who even is that? That’s not really a picture with me.
— pH-1
Malwang agreed that the filters are annoying and that he actually tells his fans that he doesn’t take pictures with fans who use filter apps. He then added that he finds it more annoying when his fans try to hide half their face when posing for a selfie together…
…which reminded pH-1 of another pet peeve when it comes to taking pictures with fans. The rapper noted that he doesn’t understand fans who ask for his selfie on their phones—and not an actual picture of them together.
팬과 사진 찍을 때 연예인이 하는 생각
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ pic.twitter.com/ipluyFQotL— baekhyun_a (@pu2022138) October 22, 2025
Wait, let me add one more. I don’t get when they ask for a selfie, but when I agree, they just hand me their phones? And when I say, ‘Let’s take one together,’ they’re like, ‘No, I just want a selfie of you.’ I don’t understand that at all.
— pH-1
The stars hoped that their fans would “have more confidence” and be more proud when taking pictures with them—but with the clip gone viral, it is now backfiring on the rapper and the YouTuber.
- “Even top celebrities don’t say stuff like this, but this rapper and YouTuber are out here telling their fans to have more confidence…”
- “Are these people even celebrities? They sure don’t look like it.”
- “Quasi-celebrities who’ve forgotten what gratitude is.”
- “Lmao. Who are these nobodies?”
- “Bring in real celebrities to talk about this stuff, not these nugus who aren’t even real celebrities.”
- “Who are they to talk about fans and their self-esteem? Human self-esteem tends to fluctuate. When the environment changes, it goes up or down easily. If you’re born into a good environment or get lucky, of course things turn out well. It’s not something that makes you a better person. Just… move on. There’s no need to understand everyone. Why lecture everyone about it? That kind of talk just exposes your own inferiority complex.”
- “Do they really want to be talking sh*t about people who love them unconditionally? Just get over it. What’s there to be annoyed about?”
- “Ugh, just be grateful you even get asked for pictures.”
Korean netizens criticized the two stars for “basically talking behind their fans’ backs.” Belittling them with “Nugu?”s, netizens also slammed pH-1 and Malwang for being ungrateful, given that they even have fans asking for pictures.
- “I thought neither of them are actual celebrities and so they just didn’t understand fans’ feelings. But talking about their own fans like that? Just rubs me the wrong way.”
- “To be real, I’ve also wondered why people even use those filter apps. But I honestly don’t think fans asking for filter pictures grants them talking sh*t like this.”
- “Sorry, but who are these people?
- “So arrogant.”
- “They’re talking sh*t about their own fans…?”
- “What the heck LOL I figured I might be the only one who doesn’t know who these people are… I mean, they look like nobodies that I got embarrassed for them and just scrolled down.”
- “Who are these people?”
- “Literally nugu?”
- “I don’t care so much about what was said, but Malwang… C’mon. He should just be grateful that he has fans at all. Filter app or not.”
- “NUGU?”
- “So I’m not the only one who has no idea who these people are.”
- “I mean, pH-1 and Malwang aren’t necessarily nugus. Not that they’re superstars or anything, but they’re somewhat popular in their own ways.”
- “This was ridiculous.”
Of course, K-Pop idols are way more experienced with all of these requests. Read more about the time a 4th-generation boy group member broke the rules to grant his fan’s wish, no complaints:
4th Generation Idol Breaks Staff’s “No Selfie” Rule To Take Photo With A Fan