Nirosta Steel apologizes for controversial Xiaohongshu activity

Musician Steven Hall, performing as Nirosta Steel, has issued an apology following scrutiny over his social media activity on the Chinese platform Xiaohongshu (Red Note). The controversy arose after screenshots circulated on X showing Hall following various accounts, including those featuring AI-generated content and accounts categorized as “shotacon,” a term referring to the erotic depiction of underage boys.

In a statement, Hall explained that he began following accounts on the platform after being informed that his music was gaining popularity there. He stated that he followed several accounts quickly without closely examining their content and was unaware that some contained “highly toxic content.”

Hall has since deleted his Xiaohongshu profile. In his apology, he noted that the accounts followed do not reflect his interests and suggested that “ageism and homophobia” may be influencing the online discussion. He expressed a need to be more careful with social media usage moving forward.