SHINee‘s vocalist Jonghyun addressed the accusations of him making a misogynistic statement on his radio show.

Late July 11 evening, Jonghyun posted to his Instagram, “I believe that one shouldn’t overreact to small happenings. I also think that the fundamental basis of a life of learning is that you should try to fully understand people’s views, and fix your wrong opinions. The reason why I’m posting this is because, as a man with a mother and a sister, there are talks going around of me being a misogynist and that I’ve said misogynistic statements. That is not true, but if those stories are going around and I stay quiet about it, some people will believe that I’m a misogynist who says misogynistic things. That would be a really big problem in my life, and a stain that I would not be able to erase.”

He continued, “I am not a misogynist nor did I say misogynistic things. If what I’ve said offended anyone, I want to know exactly what I said that has offended you, which is why I’m communicating like this. While talking about music on radio I said that women were blessed beings, and regarding this issue I will continue to post on SNS.”

He then took to his Twitter to post a transcript of a conversation between him and singer Nine of band Dear Cloud that has caused the controversy. In the recording, he said, “Women are blessed beings. They are the biggest inspiration to all artists. They make all poets write poems, all painters pant, and all singers sing.”

Regarding his statement, he tweeted, “What I said about women being blessed and the source of my inspirations doesn’t mean that they are below me.” He further continued, “People are wondering if I consider women as objects for the sake of creativity, but there’s nothing in the world that is used as objects for creation. One simply expresses what already exists through art.”

Article: SHINee Jonghyun "I am not a misogynist" clarifies 'One Night' post

Source: Kukmin Ilbo via Nate

Jonghyun clarified rumors that he was a misogynist as per a radio show where he said, "Women are blessed. I think that women give artists the most inspiration. They make poets write poems and artists draw art and singers sing songs." 

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1. [+529, -18] You'd have to be messed up in the head to even take what he said to be misogynistic

2. [+337, -22] I seriously don't understand why him calling women blessed is problematic. I read what the people accusing him of misogyny said and I think I have a clue of what they're getting at but I just didn't get that vibe from what Jonghyun said. And with what some people are accusing him of, I think it's reading way too deep into it. I'm a woman myself but I get goose bumps when I see women on grab onto non-issues like this while hating on female celebrities. Women need to draw a line sometimes.

3. [+270, -24] None of what he said warrants any problems, why are feminists getting all riled up over nothing tsk tsk... I respect feminism but I hate extremists like some of these, seriously

4. [+27, -1] I don't even know how messed up you have to be to take what he said as misogynistic

5. [+21, -1] How can you even interpret what he said in that way? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

6. [+19, -1] Wow, makes me realize that you could say anything and people will twist it to mean what they want ㅋㅋㅋ

7. [+17, -4] This is why women get hate, a minority of them acting like this ruins it for everyone else. How many times has it happened this year already?

8. [+14, -3] Feminazis at a witch hunt again ㅋㅋ

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