The 'bad attitude' controversy that recently broke out not only affects Irene's image, but also can cause significant d...
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The 'bad attitude' controversy that recently broke out not only affects Irene's image, but also can cause significant damage to the career of Red Velvet. For this reason, since the incident happened, there have been many fans asking SM Entertainment to let Irene leave the group, to protect the future of the other 4 members. However, there is yet another concern: If Irene really withdraws from the group, will Red Velvet's popularity stay the same?
Since her debut, Irene has been known as the visual of the group. Not only that, she also has the highest public awareness and owns the strongest fanbase in the group. Therefore, more or less, fans still believe that the void that Irene would leave behind, if she really had to withdraw from the group, would definitely be very large and not easy to fill.
On an online forum in South Korea, netizens had a debate about whether Red Velvet would really be "over" without Irene. Some netizens said that the other 4 members are still capable of taking on everything, from dancing and singing to public recognition, even if Irene leaves the group. Meanwhile, others insisted that the difference between having and not having Irene in the group is very huge.
Here are some of the typical comments from Korean netizens:
"I think Joy, Seulgi, and Wendy will all be fine".
"They would still be very competitive. Honestly, Irene's role in Red Velvet's songs is not that big. And when you watch their performance on stage, members like Seulgi or Joy stands out more because their bodies are more toned..."
"First of all, Joy can totally be the visual, not to mention that Joy's voice color is also very nice and she is talented. Seulgi's dancing and singing are amazing. Honesty, her kind image brings many advantages anywhere she goes. About Wendy? She sings too well and has an angelic image. Yeri is friends with many people in the industry, and also possesses the shining aura that an idol should have. She herself is also working hard to compose music. If working with a 4-member lineup, the average age of Red Velvet will decrease and the average height will increase. Also, the news of Irene's departure would also become a hot topic so the group will get even more attention."
"Although she doesn't have an important role in the group's songs or choreography, for non-fans, Irene is the symbol - the face of Red Velvet. The rest of the members are doing very well and also have their own special charm, but their brand awareness is too weak."
"Red Velvet members may have equal popularity, but to be honest, Irene's fanbase is overwhelming, her public recognition is also at another level, so the difference between having and not having Irene would be really big for the group… Irene is the center and the typical visual of Red Velvet. For example, with YouTube fancams, a lot of people see Irene on the thumbnails and click. I know that people here like JoyWenSeul more than Irene, but saying Irene's leaving would make no big difference is wrong. My friends all think of Irene first when it comes to Red Velvet. It's overwhelming... To be honest, the group without Irene is just like f(x) without Krystal... Irene is so popular. There were many people saying that Joy was better than Irene in the 'Bad Boy' era, but I still remember very well that online forums back then were completely chaotic because of Irene's 'Harley Quinn' look. The gap would be huge. If Irene leaves the group, the public awareness and the reaction that Red Velvet receives will definitely be different. This is my opinion as someone who used to be a fan of Irene but has now left the fandom."
"In terms of digital sales or stage performances, it would not make any big impact, but their album sales would likely decrease a bit compared to now."
"I'm a non-fan .. I click Red Velvet's video on YouTube mostly because I see Irene on the thumbnail."
"Imagine what TWICE would be without Nayeon. See? And TWICE has 9 members, while Red Velvet only has 5, so the void will be more deeply felt… I am not talking about their talents. Let's talk about the overall feelings the group brings will you see them."
How about you? What do you think? Will they be alright with or without Irene?
