At every peak, there’s a turbulence. As an ARMY, we experienced the roller coaster ride of a lifetime this year as three older members are enrolled in the military, one shaved his head just for fun, one is rolling “Like Crazy,” one is jazzing it up in the kitchen, and the last one is riding the “Golden” success.
The bottom line is that this year, all BTS members shined in their own unique way. As an OT7 fan, I would begin my day with Jin’s update, swirl through Suga, RM, JHope, Jimin, and V, and end the day with a little bit of Jungkook.
The solo debuts, however, have also seemed to cause cracks in the fandom, as many believe biases are at play. Within the last few months, a hashtag brigade has dominated the X realm, including #HYBECorrupt for V, #ProtectJimin, #RespectForJimin, and more.ย
You can sense a pattern here: ARMYs believe that Jimin’s solo debut is one of the most neglected musical acts under HYBE. And the recent revelation sheds light on the mistreatment of the “Serendipity” singer by his own fans.
“KARMYS Apologise to Jimin” and “Boycottarmy52hz.” But before we reveal the juicy details, let’s set the stage for this digital drama.
On November 17, 2023, fans were perplexed that Jimin did not win any awards at the Melon Music Awards, even though the prediction statistics showed that he was one of the top 10 contenders. After this, fans flooded X with hashtags, “KARMYS Apologise to Jimin” and “Boycottarmy52hz.”
A user ‘@Army52Hz,’ posted misinformation on the statistics that misled the fandom into under-voting for Jimin. The user is accused of voting manipulation, resulting in Jimin not winning any awards.
The Heart of the Matter: The Real Reason ARMYs Are Trending ‘Karmys Apologise to Jimin’ and ‘Boycottarmy52hz’ on X
Let’s break it down. On one side, we have “KARMYS Apologise to Jimin,” a plea for justice and fairness for BTS member Jimin. On the other, “Boycottarmy52hz” signals a collective discontent among fans. But why?
It all started when a social media user, @ARMY52Hz, was accused of being biased in supporting a specific BTS member. The plot thickens with a claim by @JIMIN_RECORD13, who translated a statement saying,
“We believe that ARMY52Hz has lost their fairness while they support a particular member.”ย
But wait, there’s more. “On the MMA voting, they didn’t make any effort to correct the damage caused by the misinformation from their prediction and its leakage, which had significant impacts on the voting,” they added.
The controversy doesn’t stop there. Another statement reads,
“The damages were getting bigger…they badly resulted in one of the member’s awards in the end…deeply disappointed by them making excuses after excuses.”ย
This outcry was linked to a screenshot showing MMA Top 10 Final Predictions, where Jimin’s album ‘FACE’ had a winning chance (22.11) but ultimately lost to ‘Do or DIE’ by Xikers (21.17)…make it make sense.
@ARMY52HZ clarified that a test confirmation was shared internally, but the viral screenshot was not intended for public distribution. This sparked questions about fairness and transparency in fan-led campaigns and voting processes.
Reflecting on the Ripples: What Does The MMA Voting Fiasco Mean?
Tis’ a battle of the individual fandomโ
Jimin’s supporters believe this voting manipulation has put “Like Crazy” on the back burner and pumped Jungkook’s solo album, “Golden.”
The MMA voting or the miscommunication or misunderstanding, whatever you want to call it, has cost the Jimin’s win. Fans are divided about the entire fiasco and whether HYBE is responsible for the mistreatment of Jimin.ย
So, where does this leave the K-Pop community? With hashtags and accusations flying, it’s clear that the power of fan bases is immense, but so is the responsibility that comes with it.
What do you think about the role of fan groups in influencing awards and recognition in the music industry?
Are we seeing a new form of digital activism or just another day in the volatile world of online fandom? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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