ZEROBASEONE Deserves Better: Fans Demand Change From WAKEONE

ZEROSEs (ZEROBASEONE fans) are increasingly concerned for the group and its members.

Recently, there have been multiple occurrences of alleged mistreatment toward the members at the hands of WAKEONE, their company.

ZEROSEs not only lament that ZEROBASEONE is a temporary project group due to its formation through Boys Planet.

zerobaseone please plagiarize https://t.co/kdgStLAEzv

— ً (@zb1oomfs) September 23, 2024

we’ll be zerose forever and you’ll be zerobaseone forever okay? ?? pic.twitter.com/M0054kfapV

— via ?️ is seeing zb1 (@zhghaoo) September 22, 2024

The members recently broke down into tears during their concert. If that was not enough, alleged WAKEONE staff reportedly made fun of the members during this.

ZEROBASEONE’s Gunwook breaks down in tears during the group’s concert:

– “These aren’t empty words, I hope we’ll continue to be together”.pic.twitter.com/KzKqigJ0FB

— About Music (@AboutMusicYT) September 22, 2024

내 옆이 스태프들 자리였는데… 매니저라는 사람이 계속 옆에서 팬들,멤버들 우는 거 조롱하듯이 흐어어어어엉이러면서 억지 울음소리 내는 거 진짜 기분 나쁘고 분위기 다 깨졋음…;;; 대놓고 옆에서 그러니까 내가 쳐다보니까 안한 척하는건 뭐임?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

— ? (@o7w2o) September 22, 2024

The seats next to me were for the staff… but this person who called themselves a manager kept mocking the fans and members who were crying, making exaggerated fake crying sounds. It was really unpleasant and ruined the atmosphere…;;; Since they were doing it right next to me, when I looked over, they pretended like they weren’t doing it. What’s that all about? LOL.

— @o7w2o/X

Also, during a recent concert, a sharp object on stage pierced through Ricky‘s hand. He continued the performance but was bleeding after pulling it out. Gyuvin took notice and gave him a tissue for the bleeding.

From a more close-up angle, I hope he’s alright… https://t.co/G1HAh6XyPC pic.twitter.com/WwLLUSDIGX

— none of your business (@Noyb520) September 21, 2024

Reportedly, WAKEONE staff also lost a custom fan gift of in-ear monitors delivered by hand for Ricky. His fans are continuing to find out what happened, knowing it was delivered.

please lets speak up about ricky’s mistreatment as well. the in-ears are still no where to be found, this is what ricky should have been wearing on stage if not for wakeone’s lack of care. WAKEONE TREAT RICKY BETTER@wakeone_offcl @ZB1_official #WakeoneStopIgnoringRicky pic.twitter.com/nMhcxPkwq7

— jian ⋆⭒˚.⋆ ricky over me art? (@shimrick__) September 21, 2024

Ricky especially has a long history of mistreatment by WAKEONE, resulting in the member confessing he’s not happy.

When they filmed CAMP ZEROBASEONE, WAKEONE seemingly forgot about ZEROBASEONE’s two Chinese members, Zhang Hao and Ricky. They were initially denied entry into Jeju because they did not have their passports. Koreans do not need passports to travel within Korea. Again, Ricky could not attend the 2023 Asia Artist Awards (AAA) due to passport and visa issues.

ricky following hao hyung to show his boarding ticket then the security saying “if u dont have a passport u cant pass” then both looking very worried. this could have been avoided if w1 inform them to bring passports#WakeoneTreatRickyBetter#RICKY_IS_ZB1pic.twitter.com/4B5le9QwGw

— ☘️ (@haobinsplanet) June 11, 2023

on june 11th, ricky was left behind at the airport due to wakeone’s incompetence. 5 months later, the situation repeats itself again. @wakeone_offcl how long will we have to tolerate this type of treatment towards ricky?#RICKYISZB1 pic.twitter.com/USq1CjIVaB

— aimi (@haozh4ng) December 11, 2023

ZEROSEs have noticed multiple instances where staff appeared to have something against Ricky specifically. On October 31, 2023, a manager could be heard yelling at Ricky for beginning his live broadcast without their permission, which outraged many netizens.

Additionally, there has been an apparent erasure of Ricky. ZEROSEs have also noted a lack of screen time.

the only time ricky spoke in todays video ? https://t.co/JhknnYQRBL pic.twitter.com/TPvgSk5lro

— rin ✩ (@hourlycatricky) July 20, 2023

Recently, ZEROSEs called out WAKEONE for an alleged social media ban on Ricky. They have noticed that he has been inactive on social media for some time and has little to no solo schedule.

besides ot9 posts ricky hasn’t been seen AT ALL on the zb1 instagram account in 19 posts and hasn’t gotten a solo shot in 42 posts

meanwhile he’s still the member that consistently generates the highest engagements for the account despite wakeone actively trying to erase him pic.twitter.com/6ca8ez2LyY

— 雨 (@yejigf) January 25, 2024

within just the month of december, ricky got:

1. no latest tiktok content
2. exclusion in aaa due to mismanagement of wakeone
3. no schedules (the schedule in the image are both in nov)
4. erasure in supposedly a heartwarming ot9 content pic.twitter.com/fcIuDzzAMq

— ۟ (@shenqrui) December 22, 2023

these are only a few of what ricky has undergone since debut and there’s so much more—which now should stop

he was just a kid who moved to a foreign country to train for years to achieve his dreams. he even almost gave up at one point. he doesn’t deserve any of these. 🙁 pic.twitter.com/fWC7P9DC7Y

— ۟ (@shenqrui) October 31, 2023

Likewise, fans have demanded better treatment for Kim Jiwoong. He also has had little to no solo schedules for the past few months.

JIWOONG has NO solo schedule, NO challenges with other idols, NO ending fairy through whole FTP promotion, NO solo post on X since March, NO solo tiktoks, almost NO solo posts on IG, almost NO appearance in videos on YT!

WAKEONE TREAT JIWOONG BETTER #JiwoongDeservesBetter

— nori✩ (@jiwoongiez) June 10, 2024

I think it’s even crazier how they edited a bunch of different clips of the members from either stages or mvs yet still didn’t include jiwoong at all…

WAKEONE TREAT JIWOONG BETTER#JiwoongDeservesBetter @wakeone_offcl @ZB1staff pic.twitter.com/2d7mfkN4KE

— nori✩ (@jiwoongiez) March 25, 2024

Taerae also suffers from an alarming lack of screen time in content.

we also need to talk about taerae. i keep looking at him and couldn’t help but feel sad. the way he said they all worked hard and suffered but he didn’t even get the amount of screentime he deserves. https://t.co/lNZS3zTPhP pic.twitter.com/g4G98h4Moy

— wonyoung ive | gunwook zb1 (@jangwonyia) June 24, 2023

HELP THE WAY THEY HAD TO SLOW DOWN TAERAE’S CLIP BECAUSE THE ACTUAL ONE WAS ONLY 00.0026 SECONDS ???? pic.twitter.com/wPiJcgWTZo

— Just a Rose (@Zerose_ars) November 5, 2023

ZEROSEs are also worried for maknae Yujin. His condition hasn’t been good, but he has to keep working.

OP said the during In bloom stage yujin didn’t do the jump and when he has back pain his face becomes stern. yujinnie please don’t push yourself and rest well. Make sure to send him a lot of love for his hard work everyone ♡? pic.twitter.com/MxXowvL19f

— 베리? (@4hyjdiary) March 24, 2024

yujin at the age of 17, used to his muscle being torn is not normal, not because he’s a soccer player. he’s been performing and now competing for months with some unknown injuries. it’s really sad seeing him like this, he shouldn’t suffer so much already in those young years : ( pic.twitter.com/V6Mnx2HyLT

— 한유진 ˃̵ᴗ˂̵ (@yujjinniez) August 5, 2024

Fans are also disturbed by a female staff’s allegedly “creepy” behavior toward him.

Even if Han Yujin were of legal age, they should respect him, no one wants an older woman at 17 flirting and insinuating things, it’s very uncomfortable, not even the Sanssengs behave like that. Una practically walks around in hot shorts in front of them and is ugly. pic.twitter.com/7yrBf0xHRZ

— Tay ?? (@Tayhao_kitty) September 23, 2024

With a growing list of alleged mistreatment toward the ZEROBASEONE members at the hands of WAKEONE, ZEROSEs are trending “ZEROBASEONE DESERVES BETTER” and #WakeoneTreatZB1Better with thousands of related posts. Fans are demanding better treatment for the group.

List of things you should worry about:
Ricky’s mistreatment
Jiwoong’s zero schedule
Yujin’s health
Taerae’s lack of screentime
Unrespectful staffs & unreasonable hates towards all members

ZEROBASEONE DESERVES BETTER#WakeoneTreatZB1Better pic.twitter.com/zi35DbFMO6

— rosebabyz (@Iam_mknoona) September 24, 2024

Just a reminder again that this happened in 3 DAYS!!! If we don’t fight against it, THEY WILL GET WORSE! Also just imagine what they do to the boys behind closed doors when they do those things in public…#WakeoneTreatZB1Better #WakeoneStopIgnoringRicky pic.twitter.com/8z3XKT72Xr

— Chulsoo ?? Solar Power Defender (@TheDrawingQuee3) September 23, 2024

For how long will this continue to happen? You don’t care for your artist from the START. We are so tired of this madness.
ZEROBASEONE DESERVES BETTER
WAKEONE TREAT RICKY BETTER#WakeoneTreatZB1Better #WakeoneStopIgnoringRicky @ZB1_official @wakeone_offcl @ZB1staff pic.twitter.com/FHkEKd9dlP

— aivinsu ⋆ semi ia (@chajoowanz) September 23, 2024

In addition, there have been instances of WAKEONE staff allegedly being rude toward ZEROSEs. Read more below.