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Jerm Barrett: TikToker accused of acting inappropriately towards NMIXX Sullyoon, fans call him 'germ'

Fans are upset with TikToker Jerm Barrett and bash JYPe for not taking any legal actions against him

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: The K-pop rookie group NMIXX recently visited the United States for KCON LA, where they met and performed for the first time for their American fans. After attending the fan meetings, the K-pop girl group was later invited to an exclusive party where only the KCON convention and concert attendees are allowed. During the event, TikToker Jerm Barrett filmed himself approaching Sullyoon and asking her out on a dinner date at the KCON exclusive party. This interaction at the party surely is aggravating the fans due to its inappropriate environment since Sullyoon is barely 18 years old. 

Apparently, TikToker was posting video content during the whole event, and fans were excited to see some behind-the-scenes (BTS) footage of their favorite stars until they stumbled upon the next video. In the second video, the TikToker discusses how he intends to approach NMIXX's Sullyoon and "ask her out to dinner". He then advances toward her and introduces himself in Korean, to which Sullyoon responds respectfully. He then proceeds in English, asking if she'll be in LA for a while and inviting her out to dine. The 18-year-old Sullyoon appears to be perplexed for a brief moment before the rest of the NMIXX members bids them farewell and she quickly turns to bow with them. The TikToker then walks away, apologizing to whoever is filming the video, the fans surely weren't expecting that. 

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Jerm makes things more uncomfortable

Although there's nothing wrong with idols dating, many fans are concerned because Sullyoon is still basically a minor in Korea. Allegedly as per TikTok, Barrett is around 24 years old internationally and 25 years old in Korean age. This would bring the age difference to at least four years, which some fans find inappropriate given Sullyoon's recent international 18th birthday. According to Jerm's video, it appears that he violated fan/idol boundaries in several ways, such as initiating a handshake and making a joke about her for the sake of his TikTok content. 

The Covid-19 guidelines include no bodily contact to maintain both fans and idols safe from illness. The NMIXX members also were kept behind a plastic shield for protection throughout KCON hi-touch party. It appears that Jerm Barrett is not even a K-Pop-related TikToker, this sets out implications that he's not a fan of the girl group and only did this for the sake of his TikTok content. Furthermore, NMIXX members were working during this video was filmed, and Sullyoon was unable to leave the interaction. 

"JYPe continues to do nothing to protect NMIXX"

Fans allegedly found his responses to the comments on his video to be unsettling as well. After one commenter pointed out that the group's contract may include a no-dating clause, Jerm responded "there's always a way". After noticing this fans didn't waste their time and have begun to take matters into their own hands by mass reporting his TikTok account and NMIXX's agency, JYP Entertainment. He later deleted his video after getting backslash and being criticized for his actions. A fan made a thread about the whole situation saying " A FULLY GROWN MAN ASKING NMIXX SULLYOON WHO JUST BARELY TURNED 18 FOR A DATE" continuing "Even if I give him the benefit of the doubt and say he doesn't know her age, the video is still so weird?? Like why??". Whilst another fan bashes JYP for not taking legal actions "And JYPe continues to do nothing to protect NMIXX. This is a grown man coming to a fun event just to ask Sullyoon to go on a date with him, Sullyoon’s 18th birthday was a while ago but she’s literally still a kid. Like I said, this company does not care about these girls at all." One mockingly said, "W**??? @jypnation protect your artist and Jerm Barrett you’re a germ my god.". Fan pointed out tweeting "I hate the mentality that the moment a girl turns 18, she just have to expect inappropriate advances towards her just because she’s an adult."

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