The internet is buzzing after a live broadcast incident involving popular female idol Kang Min-kyung. A video clip of the event, which took place on May 5th, has been circulated on social platform “X” (formerly known as Twitter).
An online user shared the video and commented, “I find jokes about female celebrities and smoking in very poor taste. One such comment was made during the live, and Min-kyung responded with seriousness stating her disapproval. I have a lot of respect for that.”
This video clip gained viral traction, amassing over 610,000 views and achieving more than 2,000 retweets within a single day.
During the live stream, Kang Min-kyung encountered a comment from a viewer which she responded to with a rhetorical question, “So funny, telling me to quit smoking? Is this supposed to be funny? Comments like this aren’t funny at all.“
She didn’t stop there, adding, “I often come across such jokes. To be honest… I really dislike smoking jokes. I don’t smoke.“
Users from “X” chimed in, some sharing thoughts like “The mockery hiding in the question ‘Do you smoke?’ directed at women insinuates a major shortcoming if a woman smokes. It’s meant to provoke a defensive denial. It’s not expected that a woman would simply accept saying ‘Yes, I do’. The implication is that the woman has something to hide.“
Others voiced consensus, stating, “Regardless, it isn’t even a humorous joke, and what’s the point concerning smoking? Whether you smoke or not, how is that funny? It rather appears to be a demeaning kind of humor.”
Comments like “The underlying notion that women should not be smokers is utterly repugnant“, “It might not be illegal, but casting aspersions through humor is distasteful” represented the general tenor of reactions.
The clip’s spread extended to online forums such as “theqoo,” where the insensitive nature of the joke provoked further censure, with comments such as “Understanding that ‘jokes’ that might be amusing to you can be offensive to others is essential“, and “Not only is it stale, but also utterly humorless. Such ‘jokes’ are based on outdated ideas about female celebrities and smoking, which are particularly disagreeable.”
Preceding this incident, the music duo Davichi, in which Kang Min-kyung is a member, released the song “I′ll be by your side” in March. Kang Min-kyung is presently engaging with her fan base through her YouTube channel “Kyang Ming-kyung”.
FAQs about the Incident with Kang Min-kyung’s Response to the Smoking Joke
Q: What was Kang Min-kyung’s reaction to the smoking joke?
A: Kang Min-kyung responded seriously and sharply, indicating that she found the joke unfunny and expressing her dislike for jokes about smoking, especially since she does not smoke.
Q: How did other netizens react to the incident?
A: Many other netizens sided with Kang Min-kyung, criticizing the joke for being outdated, not funny, and offensive, particularly towards the female demographic.
Q: Has Kang Min-kyung been active since the incident?
A: Yes, Kang Min-kyung has continued to communicate with her fans actively, most notably through her YouTube channel.
Q: Are there broader implications of this incident?
A: The incident highlights the persistent issues of sexism and inappropriate humor directed at female celebrities, sparking broader conversations about respect and gender roles in society.
Conclusion
The incident involving Kang Min-kyung and a netizen’s insensitive smoking joke during her live broadcast serves as a stark reminder of the challenges female celebrities face regarding public perception and personal boundaries. The strong, prompt response by Kang Min-kyung, and the supportive chorus of netizens, shows a growing intolerance for such disrespectful humor. It emphasizes the importance of treating public figures with the same courtesy and respect one would expect for themselves, irrespective of their fame.