Red Velvet member Wendy has sparked widespread concern among fans after revealing her sudden weight loss affected her singing voice in a behind-the-scenes video released January 7.
The recording video for Wendy's third mini album, Cerulean Verge, showed the singer expressing frustration over changes to her vocal quality. Wendy explained that the unintentional weight loss caused her voice to sound thinner, losing the rich tones she previously had.
"This hasn't happened before, but recently, my voice got thinner as I lost weight. I didn't mean to lose weight, so those rich sounds from before are gone, and I'm singing off-balance," she said in the clip, according to Koreaboo.
The singer also revealed she had been forcing herself to eat despite having no appetite. "Even though I forced myself to eat gimbap when I didn't have an appetite, I'm still singing off-balance. My voice is giving out, and I think I sang it in a damaging way. It's a shame," Wendy shared in the video.
The clip quickly went viral on social media, with fans expressing worry about the idol's health and well-being. Many supporters took to platforms like Twitter to share their concerns, with some describing how painful it was to hear Wendy sound "devastated" while discussing her struggles with eating and vocal performance.
The revelation has drawn attention to the intense pressures faced by K-pop idols, particularly regarding body image and performance standards, Shining Awards reported. Wendy's candid admission about unintentionally losing weight and its impact on her professional abilities highlights the physical and mental toll of maintaining careers in the competitive Korean entertainment industry.
Fans have rallied around the singer, offering messages of support and encouraging her to prioritize her health over performance expectations. The incident has reignited discussions about the need for better health protections and support systems for artists in the K-pop industry.
Wendy debuted as a member of Red Velvet in 2014 and has since pursued both group and solo activities. Her third mini album, Cerulean Verge, which was released in September 2025, represents her latest solo project.
The album marked her first musical release after signing with her new agency ASND in April 2025, though SM Entertainment continues to manage her group activities with Red Velvet. Wendy has been actively promoting the album through her first solo world tour, "W:EALIVE," which included stops across Asia and the United States, with a Manila performance scheduled for January 2026, as per the Korea Herald.
