TW discussion of underage sexualization

I've noticed this, obviously, with New Jeans and Le Sserafim, but I've noticed it more broadly across MANY groups in the 4th gen, both male and female. For reference, I'm 30 years old, a teacher, a mandated reporter, and overall what I would consider an advocate for youth. I take the protection of children and teens very seriously, which obviously makes kpop somewhat treacherous for me.

Around the time that New Jeans were having their Cookie controversy, I voiced my discomfort and dissatisfaction with the song just like many people did, and I noticed immediately that the defenders had a really strange and troubling anger to their defense. There were, of course, people dismissing concerns by saying that "cookie" isn't well known English slang and we're just over here being ethnocentric as usual, or people flat out insisting that critics were just jealous of NJ's success. But beyond all of this - not just once, but in a handful of instances, with several different fans - I have heard the implication that people uncomfortable with sexualized minors are just struggling with their own pedophilia. I've heard broad blanket statements, and I've had statements directly aimed at me, accusing ME of being the problem.

The last time, in addition to a couple Reddit Cares messages, I received a message telling me that I should quit my job because I clearly "don't know how to interact with children" and that I have some kind of sexual hangup that I'm projecting. It made me sick to my stomach, because I don't think people realize what a powerful accusation that is to throw around. It's even worse when it happens publicly on Twitter, but anywhere, this is a low blow to pull on someone that you disagree with about a kpop group.

Concern for underage groups doesn't come from a place of hate, and it CERTAINLY doesn't come from a place of repressed pedophilia. Accusing someone like that, even playfully or snarkily on Twitter, is fucking revolting. If you've ever done this - if you've ever THOUGHT this - think long and hard about what your money is supporting, and whose pockets it's ending up in. You're not "protecting" the girls by continuing to line the company's pockets... and if I were truly interested in minors, why wouldn't I just shut up and throw my money at the company too?