On Sunday, October 20, 2024, several clips of RIIZE members being stalked by a few fans in Shanghai went viral online. Some clips also showed Chinese netizens trying to get past their security detail by fighting with the bodyguards to film the group members. This invited global backlash toward those netizens for inconveniencing RIIZE and allegedly harassing them.On Friday, October 18, 2024, SM Entertainment's rookie boyband, RIIZE, held their fan sign event in Guangzhou, Shanghai, China, where they met their fans. In a gesture of rebelling against their company and showing support for former RIIZE members, Seunghan did the "7-finger" pose to represent the band's original ethos that "RIIZE is 7."For the unversed, Seunghan was removed from the group after an 11-month hiatus (November 2023 to October 2024). He was on a hiatus because he became embroiled in a dating and smoking controversy after his pictures of allegedly smoking a cigarette and kissing his reported girlfriend went viral online.Meanwhile, on October 20, international fans noted that RIIZE's Anton looked disturbed and uncomfortable as a few fans tried to shove their phone cameras on him to click his pictures. Furthermore, some fans stalked the group to their hotel and wanted to film them, which caused safety concerns for the members.Fans lashed out at those netizens who allegedly jeopardized the K-pop group's safety and wrote:"when will y'all ever learn"RIIZE's fans also highlighted how unethical it is to treat K-pop idols as "dolls" and not humans and sympathized with the band members."The audacity to shove cameras in their faces like nothing is happening, zero respect, it's like they are mocking them "you are a doll, your feelings doesn't matter, you'll do whatever we want"," a fan wrote."This is the first time I've seen anton angry more than 3 times in the span of a week..." another fan emohasized."Those "fans" forget he is an aries … y’all push him to his limits, one day he’s gonna lost it," one other fan added.Fans reacted to Anton's appearance in many clips, stating that he appeared pissed at the circumstances. They expressed their anger and suggested that Anton should have started "flipping off" the phones of those alleged fans."I need anton to start flipping off the fans who shove their phones to his face next time," one fan commented."The boys over the last week have looked so heavy, they just look constantly stressed and tired even when they look ‘happy’ I just feel so bad for them like this is what ot6 have done," another fan mentioned."This is not normal. why do they think this is okay. I hate this, free them from rude and invasive fans," another fan remarked.International fans and major K-pop retail stores join global boycott over Seunghan's removal from RIIZEOn October 13, 2024, SM Entertainment's subsidiary label, Wizard Production, announced that Seunghan had been removed from RIIZE. The news followed 48 hours after the label confirmed Seunghan's return to the group after an 11-month hiatus. However, on October 12, some Korean netizens sent protest wreaths to SM Entertainment, demanding his removal from RIIZE.As soon as the label announced his exit from the group, international fans lashed out at the company and Korean netizens for their "toxic" culture that crucified K-pop idols for dating. They trended hashtags like #NO_SEUNGHAN_NO_PEACE, #SMwantsourmoneynotouropinion, #SMSupportsBullying, and more, and called a global boycott.Major international K-pop retailers, including SubK Shop, KPOPNARA, and Stardust K-pop, joined the boycott, suspending RIIZE's album stocking and sales. Over 121 K-pop retail stores across the United States, India, Germany, and more joined the movement.Here is the complete list of major international retailers from the K-pop sales business who have joined the boycott:Kpop Kastle, FloridaSubK ShopOppang K-pop Store, North CarolinaKPOPNARA, New York CityKPOPNARA, ChicagoEVEPINK, TexasBoutique Musica, FranceBoutique TAI YOU, Franceyumekonbini, ItalyStardust K-pop Shop, ItalyHouse of K-pop, SingaporeKpop Bazaar, AustraliaKboo Store, SpainLightUbK, CanadaHey!Hallyu, NetherlandsCopenhagen Kpop, DenmarkSaranghello, San FranciscoSarah & Tom, CanadaKaido Italia K-pop Shop, Italykpop1004, Canada, and the USAKSPACE, Czechia12KST Shop, CaliforniaSokollab, the United KingdomKpop Store, Georgia (USA)Chorusaruma, Saudi ArabiaCookie Kshop, IndiaSaranpop Kpop Store, CambodiaArtbox, CanadaKpopalbum.khstore, CambodiaAll Korea, QatarKPOP.RS, SerbiaiPurple, EuropeKpop Gateway, VirginiaChoice Music, Los AngelesI Heart Kpop, Australia (Brisbane)CNA K-Pop, the PhilippinesKKANGZ and Kpopstopnz, New ZealandKpop Nara, WoodfieldMoonlight Mart, AuroraKpop merch by Choc Choc, Chicagokpopofchicago, ChicagoSeoul Stop, the PhilippinesKpop Kingdom, VirginiaKpopzone, DenverKpopdistrict, the United KingdomNolae, GermanySeoulStation, GermanyKpopowo, PolandSklep Kpopowy, PolandKpopSzop, PolandK Stars, the United KingdomKpop.omoK-pop utopia, WisconsinAling Chulien, the Philippinessoundbloom, FloridaKloud Kpop, CaliforniaPloghvey Kpop, TennesseeKpop Time, AustraliaKpopfriends, AustraliaDaebak, GermanyJamais Vu Kpop Shop, the United KingdomBD Kpop Corner, BangladeshAegyo Kpop Store, GermanyThe Happy Store, the PhilippinesU Desser Eats, San DiegoCokodiveKpop Fanstore, IndonesiaTienda Humo, ChileKpoppin USA, FloridaTokki-Shop, GermanyDaestore, FranceDICO KPOP STORE, ChileUri Shop, ChileKrmerch, SingaporeKingdom of Kpop and More, North CarolinaKpop SA, TexasNeo Tokyo, GermanyAkira, CanadaMomo Store, SpainThe Korner, GermanyImpact Store, SpainPig Rabbit Shop, SpainThe K-Pop Empire, Washington D.C.Oh Seoul Happy, North CarolinaK Town, CanadaWondernaraChingu Dachi, the PhilippinesKpop n More, Tennesseen.cat, the PhilippinesYumiko, PolandPoppe Shop, the PhilippinesKandy Pop, CaliforniaiMusic Shop, DenmarkSuper Dragon Toys, BelgiumSoojib, the United KingdomK-moon, ItalyThe Sounds Store, NetherlandsPink Box, TexasKpop Nation, the USAHallyu HamkeOnnigom, FinlandEri Shoppe, the PhilippinesKorK, MissouriKyyo and Lilakshop, the United KingdomBak Bak K-store, EuropePeach Blossom Shop, UkraineFroggoshop, UkraineKstory Espana, SpainChuchucherry, the United KingdomKaepjjang Shop, FranceCheng Gong, ItalyNat's Idea Kpop, PolandVT Carrollton, TexasKpop Republic, CaliforniaKpop Pink Store, CaliforniaMelashy World, Puerto RicoShopluxc, MexicoDongsong Shop, Mexicoidollmusic, South CarolinaVariaworld, NetherlandsKplace USA, CaliforniaCurrently, RIIZE consists of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee, and Anton. The group released their comeback mini-album, RIIZING, on June 17, 2024.