RIIZE Members Spotted Making OT7 Hand Gestures at Fansign Event

The recent exit of Seunghan from RIIZE has left a wave of confusion and sorrow among fans, especially considering it occurred merely 48 hours after the announcement of his return following a prolonged 10-month break. His departure appears to be a direct consequence of SM Entertainment’s handling of backlash from certain Korean fans who expressed their discontent by sending funeral wreaths to the agency, upset over aspects of his life before debut, including his relationship and smoking habits.

In reaction, international supporters of the group are now organizing protests and boycotting RIIZE and SM Entertainment, calling for Seunghan’s reinstatement. K-Pop retailers around the globe have joined this movement, vowing to refrain from selling RIIZE merchandise.

Despite the ongoing unrest among the fanbase, RIIZE remains active, yet the absence of Seunghan has evidently impacted the remaining members. They performed on October 17 at The BLUE HAPPY FESTIVAL 2024 in Yokohama, Japan, where the audience noticed an empty spot in their formations, possibly reflecting the group’s true sentiments regarding this situation.

During their KMStation Fansign event in China, international fans voiced their worries about the members’ emotional health, expressing hopes that the group would be candid about their feelings. Unfortunately, the members did not seem particularly cheerful during this interaction.

riize in their next performance pic.twitter.com/1qfveE7qcY

— ِRIIZE IS SEVEN (@ilovjsc) October 17, 2024

Some members appeared to make subtle gestures of protest. Notably, Sungchan raised an upside-down “7,”while Anton displayed all seven fingers, seen by fans as an assertion that RIIZE is a seven-member ensemble, not just six.

There was speculation surrounding Anton’s gesture, with some suggesting it might also symbolize “520,”which translates to “Wo ai ni”in Mandarin, meaning “I love you,”as the sounds are similar. Nevertheless, many fans interpreted this display as more of an OT7 sign.

In summary, international fans believe that the members may be subtly indicating their viewpoint on current events through these hand gestures.

Source: Fireplace

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