SHINee's Key reveals he overheard people bad-mouthing him at a restaurant

SHINee's Key recently opened up about an uncomfortable encounter where he overheard strangers talking badly about him right next to him.

On the new talk show 'Salon de Idol,' where Key, BTOB's Changsub, and Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon get together to talk about various random topics of discussion. During the discussion, he recalled a night when he visited a restaurant that offered private rooms. While quietly having drinks with a friend, he suddenly became the subject of a heated discussion in the room next door, where four or five women in their 20s and 30s were celebrating a birthday.

He shared, "I once went to a private room izakaya, and I heard people bad-mouthing me right next to me." He added, "They didn't know I was there. I think there were about four or five women in their 20s or 30s. My friend and I were just quietly talking and having a drink."

He continued, "The conversation started with public TV variety shows, and then 'I Live Alone' came up. One of them said, ‘I really like Key, he’s so likable.’ But another person strongly argued against it, saying, ‘He talks so rudely.’" Key added that the women got more heated as they continued drinking, openly debating his personality for over 40 minutes.

He elaborated, "They thought I wasn't there, so I got to hear just how bluntly people talk when they think no one's listening. I wasn't easy to sit through, especially hearing it so close," Hyoyeon asked, "Why didn't you just open the door? They would've loved that." Key responded, "I did debate whether I should open the door or not. But in the end, I didn't."

Korean netizens commented:

"If you don’t know or don’t like them, just shut up in front of someone who does, please ㅠ You’re not having that conversation to ruin a fan’s mood."

"That friend badmouthing Key in front of her friend, who is his fan, is so messed up."

"Not even a friend issue. Just mentally unwell."

"I’d cut ties right away."

"Why get so heated to convince a friend that Key is so bad when she's a fan?"

"I once had a really close acquaintance who, when my idol had a comeback this year, (pretended not to know) and went, 'They had a comeback?! Really? I had no idea. Then I guess they flopped.' I heard that and thought WTF."

"They were doing it on purpose to provoke. Yup. It’s just insecurity. You need to cut them off."

"Honestly, I couldn’t be a celebrity. If I even hear people messaging about me next to me, my hands shake."

"I had a friend like that too, and I slowly distanced myself."

"If someone says they like someone and you react like that, isn’t that psychopathic? I bet the people there realized it was time to cut ties."

"The 'Key-liking girl' said she really liked him first, and then someone shot back hard with 'I don’t like him' and kept it up for 40 minutes. That’s the real issue."

"In real life, that’s just pathetic. A friend says they like someone, and you go on like that."

"Is it really necessary to talk that badly of him that in front of someone who said they like him?"

"Whether Key was there or not, openly saying that when someone says they like him, that's not normal."

"Whatever the case, a person who argues for 40 minutes that they dislike someone another person likes is not sane."

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