(G)I-DLE’s Yuqi has stirred controversy after voicing frustration about paying out of pocket for extra concert tickets for friends and acquaintances.
On a May 13 episode of YouTube show TEO, titled “The day we’ve been waiting so long for has finally come | EP. 90 I-DLE Minnie, Yuqi,” Yuqi and fellow member Minnie candidly discussed the costs idols sometimes bear personally when it comes to inviting guests to their own concerts.
The conversation began when host Jang Do Yeon noted that Minnie had reportedly spent 10 million KRW (~$7,300) to invite around 100 people to her concert. Yuqi chimed in, saying,
“There’s a ‘Minnie Zone’ whenever we perform in Thailand,” referring to the large section filled with Minnie’s family and friends.
Yuqi then added with visible frustration:
“It’s our own concert, and we still have to buy the tickets ourselves. We only get four free tickets, and anything beyond that, we pay for.”
The clip, intended to be humorous, sparked strong backlash online, with many netizens and fans criticizing her remarks as tone-deaf and privileged.
Fan Reactions:
“Your fans save up to buy those tickets. Why are you complaining about giving a few away?”
“Celebrities really have no idea how expensive concerts are for regular people.”
“Fans are treated like ATMs while idols complain about not getting unlimited freebies.”
“This isn’t a flex—it just sounds ungrateful.”
Some fans defended Yuqi, saying she was simply expressing the surprise and oddity of not being given more complimentary tickets for a show she is performing in.
But others emphasized that in an era where fans are highly aware of ticketing equity and pricing, such complaints come across as insensitive, especially when prime seating and access are already exclusive privileges for celebrities and their circles.
Industry Insight
It’s not unusual in the K-pop world for artists to be limited in how many guest tickets they can offer, especially for sold-out or large-scale arena shows.
While management companies often control this, public airing of such grievances can quickly spark controversy due to how closely fans follow financial fairness, access, and idol behavior.
As of now, neither Yuqi nor Cube Entertainment has issued a formal statement on the matter.
