BTOB Lee Changsub Faces Backlash After Bubble Response
BTOB’s Lee Changsub drew criticism after harsh remarks on the YouTube show “12F” about a couple’s trash dispute. His response on the fan platform Bubble, where he reflected on his behaviour without directly apologising, sparked even more backlash from Korean netizens who felt the apology missed the point.
Official Response
Lee Changsub, a member of BTOB and a solo singer, shared a message on the fan communication platform Bubble on September 22, 2026, in response to the growing controversy over his remarks on the YouTube channel “12F.” The message was his first direct acknowledgment of the backlash. According to SBS Star, his post was interpreted as his official stance regarding the controversy surrounding his remarks released on September 17.
In the message, Changsub reflected on his recent behaviour and acknowledged crossing boundaries.
“There is a limit one should observe with others, but lately, while doing my schedules, I feel I have been crossing that line,” he wrote. “I noticed I’ve become obsessed with having to do better, be more entertaining, and be more memorable. I’ve become dull to extreme things. It’s not easy, but I want to return to my original mindset”.
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What Happened?
The controversy began on September 17, 2026, when the YouTube channel “12F” released episode 79 of the show “Sales in Progress,” titled “It Only Takes 3 Seconds to Steal Your Girlfriend”. The episode featured a discussion about a couple in their late twenties who had been dating for about three months. The boyfriend regularly drove to pick up his girlfriend for dates and expected her to dispose of his used coffee cups and water bottles afterward.
Changsub sided with the boyfriend during the debate. Among his comments were remarks like, “If I told you to take the bus, you’d probably sulk,” “It’s bad manners,” and “There’s no consideration at all”.
The backlash focused less on which side he took and more on what many viewers saw as an attempt to invent situations not in the original story to make the girlfriend look worse. Many netizens agreed that this behaviour didn’t reflect his usual personality, as he was known for being natural without being over-the-top.
The timing made the situation particularly striking. Only days earlier, Changsub had received praise for quietly supporting his close friend Soyou following the death of her father. On September 9, Soyou appeared on the KBS Joy variety program “Kkiri Kkiri,” where she revealed that Changsub and Jung Jinwoon had supported her during a difficult personal period, telling her, “Don’t say sorry. Don’t force yourself to hype up your mood. We’ll take care of everything”.
Why the Bubble Response Drew Even More Criticism
Changsub’s Bubble message did not directly address the specific comments he made on the show. Instead, he framed the issue as part of a broader personal struggle with wanting to be more entertaining.
Korean netizens reacted sharply to this approach. One comment captured the frustration: “He didn’t apologise… he’s just a shallow Korean man… he doesn’t even know what he did wrong, he’s just saying this because of negative media reports… he’s the typical representation of a shallow Korean man”. Another user dismissed the reflection as promotional: “The fact that he’s saying he’s trying to become a balanced person is just him promoting the article he posted… so shallow… get lost”.
Some also criticised the platform choice itself. One commenter noted, “Casual apologies on Bubble seem to be becoming a weird tradition among male idols”.
The criticism was not entirely one-sided. Some netizens pointed out that on a web variety show, cast members are expected to express opinions strongly, and that different perspectives on the situation in the story are natural. Others argued that repeatedly asking a partner to dispose of personal trash is itself questionable behaviour.
Key Facts Readers Should Know
- BTOB’s Lee Changsub appeared on the YouTube channel “12F” on September 17, 2026
- He made harsh comments during a “trash debate” about a couple’s dispute
- His remarks drew criticism for being excessively aggressive and inventing scenarios
- He responded via Bubble on September 22, reflecting on his behaviour
- The response drew more backlash for not directly apologising
- The video’s comment section surpassed 10,000 comments
Important Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 9, 2026 | Changsub praised for supporting Soyou on “Kkiri Kkiri” |
| September 17, 2026 | “12F” episode released, controversy begins |
| September 22, 2026 | Changsub shares reflective message on Bubble |
| September 23-26, 2026 | Comment section exceeds 10,000, debate continues |
| September 30, 2026 | Media reports on the ongoing backlash to his response |
What Happens Next?
No further official details have been announced at the time of publication. Changsub’s message on Bubble remains his only direct response to the controversy. CUBE Entertainment has not released a separate statement addressing the backlash. No schedule changes or additional apologies have been confirmed.
FAQ
What did Lee Changsub say on “12F”?
He criticised a girlfriend in a couple’s dispute over trash disposal, calling her behaviour “bad manners” and saying she had “no consideration at all”.
What was his response to the backlash?
On September 22, he posted a reflective message on Bubble, saying he had been “crossing the line” and wanted to return to his original mindset.
Why did the response spark more backlash?
Many netizens felt he didn’t directly apologise for his specific comments and instead framed the issue as a personal struggle, which they saw as avoiding accountability.
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