ZEROBASEONE Accused Of Queerbaiting After New Content Goes Viral

ZEROBASEONE’s recent content has sparked mixed reactions from netizens.

ZEROBASEONE | @ZB1_Official/X

Recently, ZEROBASEONE appeared on SBS Inkigayo’s YouTube channel as part of their promotions. The video featured the group doing a number of activities including the Pepero Game.

The Pepero Game is a trend that has fallen somewhat out of popularity with K-Pop idols, but features the members biting at a stick of the candy to try to make it as small as possible.

The members of ZEROBASEONE played the game and had some of the moments typical in it, getting pretty close as they competed.

“hey matthew is excited right now”
“why is matthew in a hurry”
“don’t make it so obvious”

haobin clocking them IMFUCKFIFNR CRYING pic.twitter.com/tWizaGx00u

— ꒰ᐢ..ᐢ꒱🪽 (@haomcats) April 4, 2025

JIWOONG AND RICKY POCKY GAME 😭 pic.twitter.com/Zf0mLP4Rib

— nori✩ (@jiwoongiez) April 4, 2025

The clips quickly went viral as fans discussed and shared the content. However, not all the discussion was positive.

Amongst the comments made, many accused the group of “queerbaiting.” Queerbaiting is a term usually used for when characters portray queerness without actually being queer for attention or some other gains.

You can tell theyre all straight because of the amount of queerbaiting they do. no gay man is comfortable doing that especially in s conservative country like korea’s https://t.co/xFYJjBOYRh

— ‏َ (@yslhaerin) April 4, 2025

When the sales are getting low https://t.co/9SLQDaX4Kq

— ‎୨♡୧ (@baecix) April 4, 2025

Whenever I see something about zb1 they are always queerbaiting https://t.co/b0qcAqUFhE

— ً (@niishmriki) April 5, 2025

Many came to the idols’ defense, mentioning that even without speculating on the members’ sexualities, comments like those can be considered homophobic. Some also remarked that the game used to be common place in earlier K-Pop generations, calling out the negative reactions.

blocking whoever is calling this queer baiting … it is just pepero game you stupid fucks… and stop assuming people's sexuality bc yeah, it is still assuming even when you call them straight!!! just let them act how they want https://t.co/pcyYs0LZ6O

— sere (@norenssung) April 4, 2025

sure this is fanservicey but zb1 is the LAST group you'd want to call out for queerbaiting 💀 jiwoong participated in an mv about homophobia, hanbin specializing in queer-coded dance styles, hao sang an ost from a bl, matthew supporting lesbian zerose in a fancall and more https://t.co/Ray5p7VIO3

— 🩷💛🩵💚💜 (@nobodybaechuu) April 5, 2025

its akways "bring the old kpop" or "make kpop funny again" until they do and a bunch of hypocrites get mad
kiss my ass and let people enjoy what they want https://t.co/PbVX5I7RwM

— achimiwa (@haosinterpol) April 5, 2025

The group have shown support to the LGBTQIA+ community before, which you can read about below.

ZEROBASEONE Kim Jiwoong’s Concert Speech Touches LGBTQIA+ Fans