PSY responds to criticism over weight loss with mukbang video

Time of India

2 days ago

K-pop legend PSY, whose adorable chubby appearance has been his signature charm for over two decades, found himself in hot water with fans recently. The "Gangnam Style" hitmaker faced an unusual problem when he had lost too much weight.
Unlike typical celebrity weight controversies, where stars are criticised for gaining weight, PSY's situation is refreshingly different. His fans have consistently demanded he maintain his lovable, round physique, considering it an essential part of his appeal. When recent photos showed a noticeably slimmer PSY, fans immediately voiced their displeasure, calling it a "self-management failure".
Fan Outrage and PSY's Humble Response
The criticism reached a peak when fans flooded his social media with comments like "You look too skinny," "This isn't the PSY we know," and "Please gain weight back".
One particularly vocal fan wrote, "Why do you keep losing weight?" to which PSY humbly replied, "I'm sorry".
This isn't PSY's first rodeo with weight-related fan complaints. The artist has repeatedly faced similar situations throughout his career, with fans consistently preferring his fuller figure over a slimmed-down version. PSY has even jokingly referred to intentionally gaining weight as his form of "self-management," turning the typical celebrity fitness narrative on its head.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Undo
The Mukbang Solution
Responding to the mounting pressure, PSY launched what can only be described as a strategic eating campaign. On July 11th, he shared a mukbang video from Daejeon, featuring himself enthusiastically devouring local specialties. The video showed PSY enjoying radish kimchi mixed with tuna, seaweed, and mayonnaise, followed by ox head soup and more radish kimchi.
In the video, PSY can be seen wrapping large portions in seaweed and eating them in single bites, generously piling on the radish kimchi while showing genuine enjoyment.
He captioned the post with "#PSYEatsGram," adding a humorous touch to his weight-gain mission.
Fan Reactions and Cultural Context
The response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive and amusing. Comments ranged from "PSY's mukbangs are strategic too" to "Eating is also management - how cool!" and "Isn't this just stomach management?". This playful interaction between PSY and his fans highlights a unique aspect of Korean celebrity culture where authenticity and relatability often trump conventional beauty standards.
PSY's approach to addressing fan concerns through food content represents a clever blend of entertainment and fan service. Rather than making promises or excuses, he's literally showing his commitment to meeting fan expectations through action - or in this case, through eating.
The situation also reflects how PSY has built his brand around being the "everyman" celebrity who doesn't conform to typical K-pop idol standards. His willingness to gain weight for his fans demonstrates the unique relationship he's cultivated with his audience over the years.
This weight-gain campaign coincides with his ongoing "PSY Summer Swag 2025" concert tour, which spans nine cities across South Korea.