Children were left in tears and their parents were furious after mistakenly buying tickets to an ‘inappropriate’ K-pop concert, featuring suggestive dancing and swearing.
Families believed the show was centred around the hit Netflix children’s movie K-Pop Demon Hunters, having seen a poster that resembled the film’s characters.
The show at Belfast SSE Arena on Thursday, February 19, was priced at £38.95 per person and advertised as a ‘one of a kind, all-action concert’.
However families were left mortified as they witnessed dancers ‘gyrating on stage’ and performing in skimpy costumes.
Parents accused the organisers of marketing the show towards children and young fans of the Netflix movie.
Promoters have now defended the show, saying it was meant to represent the whole K-Pop genre and not just the movie.
They said they were ‘aware’ of some of the negative feedback from fans.
The concert was also criticised for the performers ‘badly miming’ the backing tracks.
Families believed the show was centred around the hit Netflix children’s movie K-pop Demon Hunters, having seen a poster that resembled the film’s characters
Parents were furious after witnessing performers in ‘hot pants’, dancing ‘suggestively’ on stage at the SSE Arena in Belfast
Since its release last summer, K-Pop Demon Hunters has become the most successful film in Netflix history.
The smash hit film follows three members of a superstar South Korean girl pop group Huntr/x, who also lead double lives as demon hunters.
The group come up against a five-piece boy band, Saja Boys – demons in disguise who plan to devour the souls of their fans.
One mother told The Sun that the show was ‘absolutely not family friendly’.
She said: ‘I’m not a prude but I don’t want my daughter watching nipples flying, singing about “ice cream” and coming home singing swear words.
‘The dancers looked like they had forgotten their underwear,’ she added.
Carol Lindsay bought her six-year-old granddaughter Coco tickets to the concert, but complained that the outfits were ‘boring’ and ‘unengaging’.
She said that although she knew the show would not be based on the film, she still expected an upbeat performance with colourful costumes and wigs.
Because there were no costumes or demon hunters, she said Coco ‘started crying and asked to go home’.
She added: ‘I had more fun queuing at the bar alone for 20 minutes than I did sat watching the show.’
A large number of disappointed families walked out prematurely after feeling the show was ‘falsely advertised’.
Long queues formed at a desk for customers to make complaints and ask for refunds.
Families were horrified after lyrics from Lola Young’s song ‘Messy’ blasted through the speakers, including the f-word uncensored.
Parents took to social media to share their anger at the concert.
One mother said she believed the show was based on the Netflix hit film.
She said: ‘What we saw and got on stage was not that.
‘Half-naked people, belly tops, hot pants, no pants on, touching themselves in inappropriate places.
‘Dancing inappropriately in ways that children did not need to see.
‘If you believe that was a satisfactory performance for children, there is something seriously wrong.’
Families were left mortified and demanded refunds after mistakenly believing the show would be based on K-Pop Demon Hunters
A large number of disappointed families walked out prematurely after feeling the show was ‘falsely advertised’.
Another mother shared a video as she was walking out of SSE Arena in Belfast alongside other families.
She said: ‘It is not a K-Pop concert. They are in hot pants. My girl said “mummy I think this is just for adults”.
‘I am fuming, I am actually shaking.
‘It is a joke, everybody is leaving. They are crying their eyes out, all the kids are crying their eyes out.’
One parent shared a video warning other parents to ‘be aware’ before taking their children to the show.
She wrote: ‘This was supposed to be a very special night for so many kids, including my own.
‘A lot of little hearts were devastated tonight, kids were falling asleep with boredom and some were crying, asking when the K-pop demon hunters were coming.
‘A lot of people walked out, completely disgusted.’
The show at Belfast SSE Arena on Thursday, February 19, had been advertised as a ‘one of a kind, all-action concert’
The concert’s demise has been compared to the Glasgow 2024 Willy Wonka experience.
In a statement following the concert, the SSE Arena issued a statement addressing the complaints.
A spokesperson for the venue said: ‘We are aware of some feedback received following the K-Pop Forever Tribute show this evening at The SSE Arena, Belfast.
‘The show played in Belfast tonight as part of a world tour, and the content, design and choreography has been built to represent the full K-Pop genre, featuring songs from BTS, Blackpink and Katseye, as well as eight hits from Demon Hunters including ‘Golden’, ’Takedown’ and ‘Soda Pop’.
‘Whilst the majority of customers enjoyed the show, we understand that this was not what some expected; however, we are content that the show delivered this evening was an arena-standard tribute to the entire K-Pop genre.’
The show has continued on its tour and has since had nights in Drogheda and Castlebar.
Aiken Productions has been contacted for comment.
