Former NCT member Mark Lee has recently come under fire and issued an apology after being spotted in a T-shirt featuring a symbol tied to far-right ideology.
The backlash prompted a response from his independent agency, Upper Room, which posted a lengthy apoloy statement on their social meddia accounts on the 23rd. The agency stated:
"We sincerely apologize for the concern, discomfort, and disappointment caused by the vintage T-shirt seen in recently shared photos."
The agency explained that once they realized the historical background and sensitivity of the symbol displayed on the shirt, they tried to make sure it wouldn't be visible in official content. They admitted, "Despite these efforts, the image was still shared and has sparked concern." The agency continued:
"Regardless of our intentions, we recognize that we should have handled this with much greater caution. Overlooking this was entirely our responsibility."
They also further added, "We understand the seriousness of the concerns that have been raised and deeply apologize for the pain caused by this incident."
Wrapping up the statement, the company noted, "We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, offended, or disappointed by this matter. We promise to act with a greater sense of responsibility, awareness, and attention in the future."
To break down why everyone is so upset, the T-shirt Mark wore featured the Confederate flag. This was the official flag of the Confederate states that supported slavery during the American Civil War. Over the course of the 20th century, the flag became widely recognized as a symbol of racism and far-right movements. In fact, displaying or selling merchandise with the Confederate flag is actually restricted or banned in certain parts of the United States.
The situation is getting extra attention given that Mark is a Canadian citizen and literally just left SM Entertainment to establish his own independent label, Upper Room, making this a pretty rocky start for his solo chapter.
