HYBE Idol’s Comments To Fellow Member Spark Major Backlash About Poor Treatment

CORTIS member James’ comments to fellow member Martin have sparked major backlash towards the idol.

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CORTIS Special Live @ TikTok

🎥 https://t.co/3GHgUINBMP
📆 8/12 10PM PDT (8/13 1AM EDT, 2PM KST)#CORTIS #코르티스 #CORTIS_TOUR#PUTYOURPHONEDOWN #PYPD_IN_LA

— CORTIS (@cortis_bighit) August 13, 2026

During the broadcast, James revealed he hadn’t saved the members’ numbers because they meet and see each other all the time, but then Martin explained that he needed to contact James to get into the room, with the idol saying he chose not to answer the call.

제임스: 애초에 저는 멤버들 번호 저장도 안되어있는데요 카톡만 있어요 차피 맨날 붙어있어서, 같은 방 쓰잖아요
마틴: 아니 근데 내가 방 들어가려고 형한테 전화했는데 안받았잖아!!
제임스: 그건 내가 안받기로 결정한 거지
마틴: 보이스톡이나 페이스타임 걸려고 해도 데이터가 안될 때 잇어 pic.twitter.com/QONkjBSH1c

— ㅇㄱㅁㅅ (@cortttttttiisss) August 13, 2026

Some hit back at James’ comments, saying he was part of a group and that his treatment of Martin was wrong.

Not funny to me. All I see is someone ignoring a fellow member’s call and acting incredibly oblivious. James, you’re in a group now, not doing a solo schedule.

— teenboi (@YLJIANG_) August 13, 2026

coers don’t want to admit it, but if so many people feel a weird vibe it’s for a REASON, i have also noticed it since the beginning tbh, there’s a huge difference in the way James treats Martin compared to the others, and it’s NOT in a “respect” way bcs he’s the leader btw

— toxic Martini🍸 engenes #1 anti (@toxicmartinis) August 13, 2026

honestly what’s his problem? always so shady toward martin, when all he do is being nice to him. i don’t understand

— 𝖒𝖔𝖔𝖓 ︎⋆☽︎ (@mooniegunie) August 13, 2026

They always have a whole list of times Martin was nice to James, but can’t name one time James returned the favor. It’s pretty obvious that he treats Martin strangely.

— mars (@tinshoo0320) August 14, 2026

However, fans came to James’ defense as allegations of the idol being the reason Martin had to sleep in the corridor were shared online. Fans explained that with that criticism, the two clips had been taken out of context.

two DIFFERENT SITUATIONS btw

1.martin went to eomjju’s room,on his way back he fell asleep in front of hyeon’s door cos he was tired,after a while he woke up went to sleep on couch in hyeon’s room cz he was already half asleep..james said it’s dangerous

2.martin used to forget pic.twitter.com/AMgt2kgfjJ

— haru✶⋆.˚ (@harumancortis) August 13, 2026

🚨 [IMPORTANT] | CLARIFICATION REGARDING TODAY’S CORTIS TIKTOK LIVE

During today’s CORTIS TikTok livestream, some information regarding James was taken out of context and deliberately misinterpreted. We would like to clarify what actually happened and address the misleading…

— ONLY FOR JAMES 🇻🇳 (@ofjvn_) August 13, 2026