Television personality Kangnam faced immediate backlash and ultimately made related posts private after publicly endorsing Japanese actor Sota Fukushi on social media, according to reports from JTBC News.
Social Media Endorsement Sparks Backlash
On August 21, 2026, Kangnam posted a photo with Sota Fukushi on his personal social media account alongside a caption praising the actor. According to JTBC News, Kangnam wrote that Fukushi studies hard, speaks better Korean than he does, and described him as smart and kind while asking fans to support him.
The endorsement quickly drew negative attention from online users. Viewers pointed out historical controversies surrounding Fukushi, specifically regarding remarks made during a past television appearance, which reignited public criticism against both figures.
The Origin of the Controversy
The criticism stems from Fukushi’s appearance in a 2015 Fuji Television documentary titled Teach Us About War. During the broadcast, Fukushi revealed that his grandfather had been a kamikaze pilot trainee, stating that he respected his grandfather, according to JTBC News.
Following Kangnam’s recent social media post and the release of a collaborative YouTube video on his channel—titled Neighborhood Friend Kangnami, which featured Fukushi participating in a spicy noodle challenge—comment sections filled with critical remarks. Viewers argued that featuring an actor with such a documented family background was inappropriate, with some commenters expressing frustration that production staff were allegedly deleting critical comments.
Content Removed Amid Mounting Pressure
As the criticism intensified across platforms, Kangnam took action the following day. On August 22, 2026, he removed all posts and videos featuring Sota Fukushi from his social media accounts and YouTube channel by switching them to private status, as reported by JTBC News.
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