Bang Chan Responds to Fandom Conflict Following São Paulo Concert
On April 6, 2025, Bang Chan, the leader of Stray Kids, took to his Bubble account to discuss a recent controversy within the group’s fanbase. His comments about Brazil being “another home,” made during the São Paulo concert the previous day, stirred mixed reactions among fans, primarily because they were not as well received by certain international supporters.
A Heartfelt Gesture Misunderstood
During the dominATE concert in São Paulo, which attracted over 60,000 attendees, Bang Chan expressed gratitude towards the Brazilian audience. However, this sincere sentiment inadvertently led to discontent among some fans from other countries who felt overlooked. Following the incident, Bang Chan shared his feelings in a series of posts, revealing his concern over the backlash he faced from his comments.
Bang Chan’s Apology and Reflection
In his messages, Bang Chan conveyed a sense of apprehension, stating he now feels hesitant to share his thoughts due to the potential for misunderstandings. He expressed a wish for the discord among fans to cease and acknowledged his struggle to extend love uniformly to all members of the STAY community. He remarked:
“I said ‘another home’… I really wish for STAYs to stop fighting with each other. At this point, whatever comes out of my mouth just becomes problematic. I’m actually scared to say anything now… Why are they like this on such a great day? – Jealousy? – Understandable, yes – I feel like that’s the hardest thing to do yeah?”
Bang Chan also shouldered the responsibility for any resulting tension, stating his commitment to improving the situation while acknowledging his shortcomings in balancing affection among fans.
“Sharing love equally to all STAYs around the world is definitely something that I want to accomplish. But I think that’s the thing that I’m terrible at so I’d like to apologize. Sorry for not being able to share love equally… I feel like I’m only making fights…”
Fans Rally Around Bang Chan
In response to Bang Chan’s candid statements, fans quickly expressed their support, voicing disappointment at the leader’s self-blame. One fan, @y00niverse, highlighted the pain of seeing him take responsibility for the immaturity within the fandom:
“Bang Chan blaming himself for the immaturity of this fandom breaks my heart. He deserves so much better.”
Others echoed these sentiments, expressing sadness over his fear of sharing his thoughts and emphasizing that he should not bear the weight of the conflicts among fans.
“Bang Chan gave up his literal childhood, his teen years, the majority of his 20s, to making Stray Kids what they are today… I cannot believe we’ve got to the point where he is taking the blame for beef between his own fandom.”
A Shifting Atmosphere in the Fandom
Some fans lamented the change in dynamic, wishing for the days when Bang Chan felt safe to engage openly with the community. Remarks on social media captured the collective sentiment of heartbreak over his evolving relationship with fans:
“Every day I wake up and this app has to offer me a Bang Chan apology bubble instead of him just being happy and babbling about his day.”
About Bang Chan and Stray Kids’ DominATE Tour
Bang Chan, whose full name is Christopher Bahng, serves not only as the leader but also as the principal producer for Stray Kids under JYP Entertainment. He has been instrumental in the formation of the group, having emerged from the 2017 reality show, Stray Kids. Alongside Changbin and Han, he forms the producing trio known as 3RACHA, leading the group through numerous international milestones.
Stray Kids is currently on their dominATE world tour, promoting their mini-album ATE and the newly released Mixtape: dominATE, which coincides with their seventh debut anniversary. Following their São Paulo performance, the tour will progress to Lima on April 9 and Mexico City on April 12, with plans to extend across Japan in May. North America will host them in June, followed by European performances in July.
Stray Kids comprises eight talented members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N., each contributing to the group’s unique appeal and success. As they continue their global tour, the bond between Stray Kids and their fans remains a topic of deep reflection and community engagement.