Kang Daniel, who has been the MC for Mnet’s ‘Stage Fighter’, faces ongoing criticism over his hosting abilities. Viewers have expressed frustration with his unprofessional manner of reading directly from the script, with some saying it disrupts the flow of the show. This criticism follows previous controversies in 2022, including remarks made towards the dancers on ‘Street Woman Fighter’, for which he apologized, and another incident during the final round of ‘Street Man Fighter’ where he mentioned a rival brand of the show’s sponsor.

In the October 15th episode of ‘Stage Fighter’, which featured a dance film mission combining contemporary dance and ballet, Kang Daniel's role as MC required him to explain the rules and announce promotions and demotions of contestants. However, his constant reliance on the script was evident throughout the episode, showing no signs of improvement from previous broadcasts.

Despite the relatively simple content, Kang Daniel frequently looked down at his script, even while moving around the stage, and often used a teleprompter. His dependency on these aids created a sense of distance with viewers, failing to deliver a seamless interaction.

Kang Daniel first gained attention as the center of Wanna One after winning first place in ‘Produce 101 Season 2’ in 2017. He later secured a role as the main MC for ‘Street Woman Fighter’ and ‘Street Girls Fighter’ in 2021. While there were initial critiques of his pronunciation and articulation, some excused these shortcomings due to his inexperience as a new MC. Despite the nickname “Mnet’s Son” and his continued role in shows like ‘Street Man Fighter’ and ‘Street Woman Fighter 2’, improvements in his hosting style have been minimal.

His lack of progress has become particularly evident when compared to Taemin, who is also hosting Mnet’s ‘Road to Kingdom: ACE OF ACE’. Despite being a first-time MC, Taemin makes an effort to rely less on the cue sheet, delivering a more engaging and natural hosting style.

Mnet's choice to appoint Kang Daniel as an MC is attributed not only to his debut through an Mnet program but also to his background in contemporary dance from his high school years. However, ‘Stage Fighter’ requires him to be judged solely on his hosting skills, without a need to display his dance knowledge or experience. In this context, viewers continue to question his proficiency as a host.

His heavy reliance on scripts, despite receiving significant compensation for his role as an MC, has fueled ongoing debates about his suitability for the position.

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