Pisik University replaces Jang Wonyoung thumbnail amid 'sexual harassment controversy'... "Intended to highlight the guest," explanation given

"Replaced to Protect Cast Members"

YouTube channel Psick University changed the thumbnail of a video featuring IVE member Jang Wonyoung. Previously, some letters in the thumbnail were obscured by Jang Wonyoung's face, making it appear like a profanity and sparking sexual harassment controversy.

On the 20th, Psick University replaced the thumbnail for the Jang Wonyoung episode. The new thumbnail includes the text "PSICK Show" in the upper right corner.

YouTube channel 'Pisik University' has been criticized for videos disparaging certain regions, and now it is embroiled in a sexual harassment controversy involving IVE girl group member Jang Wonyoung. The photo shows the thumbnail before modification. Photo by Pisik University

Thumbnail after editing of the 'Pisik Show' Jang Wonyoung episode video. Photo by Pisik University

Psick University stated in the comments, "The original thumbnail was intended only to highlight the guest, with no other intentions," and added, "We replaced the thumbnail to protect the cast member."

Recently, Psick University attracted attention by featuring Jang Wonyoung as a guest on its original content "Psick Show," which is styled as a famous global talk show. As of this date, the Jang Wonyoung episode has 6.34 million views, overwhelmingly higher than other episodes.

However, in the thumbnail of the Jang Wonyoung episode, the letters "PISICK" were partially hidden behind Jang Wonyoung's face, leading domestic and international fans to comment that it looked like an English profanity or seemed intentionally profane. It was suspected that there was an intention to evoke the profanity "FXXX." Additionally, the letter "o" in the cursive word "show" was also obscured by Jang Wonyoung's photo, making the overall text appear like "FXCK she," which raised further suspicion.

Meanwhile, Psick University is a channel with over 3 million subscribers. However, on the 11th, it was embroiled in regional disparagement controversy over the Gyeongbuk Yeongyang episode in the "Made in Gyeongsangdo" series. Furthermore, with the sexual harassment concerns raised over the Jang Wonyoung episode thumbnail, the channel's subscriber count sharply dropped from 3.18 million on the 10th to 3.05 million on the 20th, a decrease of about 130,000 subscribers in ten days.