BoA responds to criticism of her judging style on ‘Street Man Fighter’

nme.com:

BoA has responded to hate comments she has received following the most recent episode of Street Man Fighter, while SM Entertainment has announced plans to pursue legal action.BoA is a judge on Mnet’s ongoing reality dance competition Street Man Fighter.

In the show’s September 20 broadcast, dance crew Prime Kings were the first crew to be eliminated from the show after losing a battle to competing crew BANK TWO BROTHERS.

Prime Kings’ early elimination surprised viewers, some of whom began voicing on social media their criticism of BoA’s judging style, going so far as to question her capacity as a judge.On September 21, BoA herself took to her personal Instagram page to address the criticism she was receiving. “It’s not like judges choose which teams will battle against each other,” the veteran idol wrote in an Instagram Story, as translated by Korea JoongAng Daily.

The post was made in direct response to a Korean news article reporting on public criticism of her discretion as a judge. “I wonder if [people] would be less [angry] if Bank Two Brothers had been eliminated instead […] It’s exhausting to think that it’s going to be like this every time,” BoA added.Shortly after BoA responded to the online uproar, SM Entertainment took to her official social media pages to issue an official statement announcing plans to pursue “strong legal action” against malicious commenters.“Currently, malicious posts and comments, defamation and insults are being indiscriminately posted and distributed on BoA’s personal social media accounts, various online communities, social media and portal sites,” the label wrote.“This is clearly illegal and subject to strong legal action.