On November 11, in celebration of Pepero Day, The Boyz member Eric posted a photo meant to show his appreciation for fans. However, the item he thought was Pepero was actually a condom, sparking humorous reactions among fans.

Earlier today, a post titled "Idol’s Pepero Day Mishap" rapidly spread on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and online communities like TheQoo. The post featured a picture Eric had shared, with a heartfelt letter to fans, which he mistakenly thought included Pepero sticks.

In his explanation, Eric shared, “Happy Pepero Day, November 11,” before humorously admitting, “I’m honestly so embarrassed. I’m going to hide for a week…” He further explained, “After work, I went to the convenience store by our dorm, picked what I thought was Pepero from a display… I had no idea. It looked just like Pepero.”

He added, “There were many types of Pepero, but I picked one labeled ‘Dear’—thinking of our fan song ‘Dear’ and wanting to write ‘Dear. TheB’ for our fans. If it shocked you, I’m sorry.” He closed on a light note, saying, “I hope you got my letter. Now, I’m off to hide.”

Upon seeing the mix-up, netizens had an outpouring of support and laughter. Comments ranged from, “This is Pepero’s fault!” to “Eric, don’t worry—it’s an easy mistake to make,” “The packaging is too confusing,” and “Anyone could’ve made the same mistake!”

The Boyz is currently promoting their new song, “Trigger.”