Eugene Aiphon Faces Backlash After Being Caught on Phone Call While Ignoring Senior Actress Muddam—Apologizes with Flowers

Eugene Aiphon Faces Backlash After Being Caught on Phone Call While Ignoring Senior Actress Muddam—Apologizes with Flowers

Eugene Aiphon, a new actor under CHANGE2561, recently became the target of online criticism after he was caught taking a phone call and not paying attention when senior actress Muddam Kachapa greeted a group of junior actors. Some netizens commented critically, saying "In front of the media, no matter how urgent, one shouldn't be on the phone. It's disrespectful and shows a lack of manners. You should step away to finish your call before entering the entertainment industry—you need to be more respectful to seniors."

On May 13, CHANGE2561 held an auspicious merit-making ceremony at their office building to launch two new series under their CHANGE2561 ORIGINAL project: the BL romance "Chasing Love, It's Tough Being the Older One" and the fast-paced youth series "Class Crush Crisis." After the ceremony, Eugene Aiphon gave an exclusive interview about the incident.

Was there an issue on social media beforehand? "I felt relieved and really happy to have the chance to meet Senior Muddam. At first, I didn't even think she would reply to my DM. I felt terrible for not talking to her at that moment. She replied and asked when I was free to meet, so I made an appointment. I went and bought her flowers and gave them to her. I never expected it would end up on a variety show."

Let's rewind to that moment? "We were about to go home. I was talking to my mom. When I saw Senior Muddam, I was focused on my mom so I didn't hear her. That's how it became a social media issue."

How did you feel when it became a thing? "I set my alarm for 8 a.m., but at 7 a.m. my mom woke me up and said it was already trending on social media. I was confused about what I'd done. When I saw the clip, oh... I was on a phone call with my mom. It became drama on social media. I was shocked. That whole day was nerve-wracking."

Did you seem stressed? "Yes, I consulted with my senior AR at the company. I thought the matter wouldn't reach higher-ups, so I talked to AR first."

When did you decide to bring flowers to Muddam? "I was very happy. Senior Muddam was surprised. She didn't expect me to come. She said that in her life, no man has ever come to sweet-talk and plead with her like that."

Your fan base grew because people saw how cute we are together? "Somewhat. Ultimately, I'm glad I got to learn and gain experience faster than most people. When other people face issues later, they can't fix them in time. So I see this as something positive, an experience that happened to me early."

What lessons did this teach you? "This taught me that I need to be aware of my surroundings at all times and stay mindful. Talking to parents is important, but if there's a senior or elder in front of you, you should talk to them first. I don't know when I'll get to see them again."