Today, TXT is widely known for their unpredictable humor, chaotic group chemistry, and the kind of unfiltered energy that regularly sends fans into laughter during livestreams and variety appearances. But according to member Beomgyu, things were once very different behind the scenes — so different, in fact, that even doing a small heart gesture for fans could reportedly get him into trouble with the company.

The unexpected revelation came during Beomgyu’s recent appearance on the television talk show Radio Star, where he opened up about the group’s early debut days and the strict image TXT was allegedly required to maintain at the time. His comments quickly spread across Korean online communities and international fandom spaces, sparking heated reactions from fans who never realized just how tightly controlled the group’s behavior may have been during their rookie era.

According to Beomgyu, the company had a very clear vision for TXT when the group first entered the industry. Rather than allowing the members to freely show their natural personalities, the agency reportedly wanted them to embody a polished, elegant, almost untouchable “prince-like” concept.

At first, that image may have looked perfect on the outside.

But behind the cameras, it apparently came with unexpected restrictions.

Beomgyu explained that during TXT’s early days, the members were actively discouraged from doing aegyo — the playful and exaggerated expressions of cuteness that are extremely common in K-pop fan culture. Even the simplest fan-service gestures were allegedly treated as something the group needed to avoid.

“Even if I just wanted to throw a heart or do a little aegyo for fans, the company tried to stop us from doing those things,” Beomgyu shared during the broadcast.

What shocked viewers the most was his confession that the restrictions extended so far that he was reportedly not even allowed to make finger-heart gestures.

For many fans, the revelation felt almost unbelievable. Heart gestures and cute fan interactions are often considered basic elements of idol culture, especially for rookie groups trying to build close relationships with supporters. The idea that TXT members were actively prevented from doing them immediately sparked debate online.

But Beomgyu’s story became even more dramatic when he revealed that he once attempted to secretly break the rule during a television recording.

According to him, there was a moment near the end of a program when he quickly tried sneaking in some aegyo before the broadcast wrapped up, hoping the staff would not notice in time.

For a brief second, he thought he had gotten away with it.

He didn’t.

“The company found out, and I actually got scolded for it,” he admitted, causing laughter inside the studio while simultaneously shocking viewers watching at home.

As clips from the episode spread online, many fans expressed sympathy for the members, especially after Beomgyu explained how heavily the group’s variety show appearances were monitored during that period. He claimed that whenever he acted “too funny” or “too cute,” those moments would allegedly get cut out during editing before the final broadcast aired.

Over time, the situation reportedly started affecting the group’s public image.

TXT gradually developed a reputation among some viewers for appearing quiet or “boring” on entertainment programs — something Beomgyu confessed he personally hated seeing attached to the group.

For fans hearing the story now, the irony feels almost surreal.

In the present day, TXT is considered one of the funniest and most chaotic groups of their generation. Their unfiltered humor, constant teasing, and wildly energetic livestreams have become some of the group’s biggest charms. Which is exactly why Beomgyu’s comments created such a strong reaction online: many fans now realize they may never have seen the members’ real personalities during the group’s earliest years.

But according to Beomgyu, everything eventually began changing because of livestreams.

As platforms allowing direct communication with fans became more popular, the members reportedly discovered one important detail: live broadcasts were much harder for the company to fully control in real time.

That realization slowly became a turning point for the group.

Beomgyu recalled how the members eventually adopted a mindset of: “This is live anyway — the company can’t stop us now.”

From that point forward, TXT gradually began showing more of their real personalities online. The members became louder, more playful, more chaotic, and far less concerned about strictly maintaining the polished image they had originally been assigned.

And perhaps the funniest part of the entire story was the way Beomgyu described the aftermath.

According to him, it wasn’t necessarily that the company suddenly approved of the members acting freely. Instead, he joked that the staff eventually seemed to simply “give up” trying to control them altogether.

That single comment immediately became one of the most quoted moments from the episode.

Following the broadcast, social media platforms were flooded with reactions from fans revisiting TXT’s early debut era with completely new eyes. Many pointed out how dramatically different the group feels today compared to their rookie appearances, while others admitted they finally understood why TXT once seemed unusually restrained during interviews and variety programs.

Some fans also praised the members for gradually reclaiming their individuality despite the strict environment they reportedly faced early on. Others joked that the company probably never anticipated how chaotic TXT would eventually become once the members realized livestreams gave them more freedom.

At the same time, Beomgyu’s story reignited broader conversations within K-pop fandoms about how heavily rookie idols are sometimes shaped, edited, and controlled during their debut years. While polished concepts are common throughout the industry, many viewers admitted they were surprised to hear how even harmless fan-service gestures could allegedly become restricted under certain image strategies.

Yet despite the frustration reflected in some of Beomgyu’s memories, fans ultimately found comfort in the ending of the story.

Because in the end, the version of TXT audiences know today — loud, unpredictable, emotional, funny, and completely chaotic — is the version that finally broke through all those early restrictions.