Is This Boy Group Name the Most Controversial Yet? Fans Demand a Change!
What if a name could ignite a wildfire of controversy before a group even steps into the spotlight? C9 Entertainment's newly announced boy group, NAZE, is already stirring the pot for all the wrong reasons, and fans are not holding back!
The company recently revealed that their trainees, previously known as “C9 Rookies,” would debut under the name NAZE (네이즈), intended to be pronounced like “haze.” However, the immediate backlash is hard to ignore. Many fans quickly pointed out the glaring similarity to the word “Nazi,” an association that could spell disaster before the group even releases its first song.
Critics are calling the name tone-deaf and incredibly offensive, especially given C9 Entertainment's tumultuous history. Just a while back, the company found itself in hot water over a music video that featured imagery and references to the Holocaust, which remained in the final cut despite the uproar from fans. This past incident has only fueled suspicions that the naming might be a cynical ploy for “noise marketing”—a strategy that thrives on controversy to generate buzz.
“PLEASE change that name, good lord,” tweeted one frustrated fan, highlighting the urgency of the situation. Others echoed this sentiment, suggesting that C9 is manipulating outrage as a promotional tactic. “The group name is 100% noise marketing because controversy is the only way C9 knows how to promote their groups,” remarked another representative voice on social media.
Many fans are now questioning whether C9 Entertainment is purposefully courting controversy to keep the group in the headlines. One Twitter user pointed out how ridiculous it is that a company which faced backlash for a song referencing the Holocaust would dare to name a new group NAZE, declaring, “at that point y’all just nazis.”
As the storm rages on, it's worth noting that the group consists of seven members: Kaisei, Younki, Ato, Turn, Yuya, Kimkun, and Dohyeok. They are slated to star in a Japanese prime-time show on the major network TBS in 2026, but their music debut is already clouded by this controversy. Fans are rallying for an immediate name change, fearing that this misstep could derail the group's potential before they even reach the stage.
