RESCENE is a five-member girl group (Woni, May, Minami, Liv, Zena) under The Muz Entertainment. They gained the title of “Rising Star” after the release of their second album, Glow Up, in February 2025. However, recent incidents have prompted some fan pages to call for a boycott of the group.
On September 13, a short video of approximately 40 seconds of Minami’s (20-year-old) live went viral. In the background, a girl’s screams are heard, followed by a harsh male voice that appears to be abusing the girl, with sounds that sound like punching or shoving. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit reshared the clip, accusing the company of “abusing and abusing” the members and calling for an immediate boycott under the hashtags #FREERESCENE and #BOYCOTT_THEMUZ_ENT.
One fan wrote: “#FREERESCENE #BOYCOTT_THEMUZE_ENT. This is in addition to the video where the girls beg for their dorm doors to be returned because they don’t have privacy. Please financially boycott this group. I know they’re famous, but anyone can see that this is abuse and that they’re not safe.”
Another added: “The way you can see the moment when she realizes what’s happening and has to act it out on camera is heartbreaking,” while others pointed out Minami’s reaction: “And you know this is common, because if it’s not, your first instinct is to check what’s going on. But instead she’s trying to detach and stay calm. This is abuse. And it’s very normal.”
The viral video highlights previous incidents, as some netizens have uncovered several other videos showing similar screaming during live broadcasts by the group members. Previous punishments for the girls, such as the removal of dorm room doors as punishment for “diet violations,” were also mentioned. The members negotiated with the manager to have the doors replaced.
Subsequently, fans of the group released a statement expressing concerns for the members’ physical and psychological well-being, demanding that the company issue a statement clarifying all the incidents and pledging to protect the members:
“We are deeply concerned about the treatment of the RESCENE members. Punishments such as removing doors, forcing members to live in unsafe conditions, or inappropriate interactions with managers are all abusive practices. Under South Korea’s Youth Protection Act, exposing minors to conditions that negatively affect their physical or mental health is prohibited.”
The statement emphasized that fans will continue to raise awareness globally to support the members’ safety until the company takes effective action.
Agency Statement
In response to the controversy, The Muz Entertainment CEO shared an official statement denying the allegations of abuse, saying, “Regarding the sounds heard during the members’ live broadcast: I was present at the time, and it was just the screaming of a passerby outside the building. Our company is located directly in front of a university, so outside noise is common. Because of this environment, our managers always accompany the members when moving around, and we prioritize their safety above all else. Even when visiting the gym or shopping, the manager goes with them, so please rest assured.”
However, the response didn’t end the controversy, as one fan responded, “Those screams weren’t from outside, and if they were, they happened more than once, which is very strange for a ‘university’ or something. This entire statement is just a bunch of lies. Do they think we’re stupid? #FREERESCENE #BOYCOTT_THEMUZE_ENT”
