A band is a composition of various talents, skills, personalities, styles, and opinions. When all comes together, the compiled voices become one entity that defines the group.
BTS is a prime example of how each member brought an element that was unique, enigmatic, and something rarely encountered in K-pop.
Namjoon, the leader, gifted us with emotions wrapped in words.
Yoongi, the producer, resonated with the beats.
Jin, the optimist, kept the group afloat as a handsomely happy virus with honey vocals.
J-hope, the sunshine, can convert emotions into dance steps.
V, the enigma, introduced 4th dimension of being an idol.
Jungkook, the golden Maknae, carried the group on his back whenever there was trouble.
And Jimin, the perfectionist, is a gift to K-pop as the one who dances to the tunes of millions of heartbeats.
Every member contributed with their flair to make BTS the biggest, greatest, most influential band in the current pop culture lexicon. They are the first international act that has not only shattered the USA music industry but also seeped into every global market.
With a decade-long journey, BTS has achieved milestones, broken records, and set unattainable benchmarks. But now, BTS’s mandatory military service has put the group activities on pause.
Hence, this is the right time for each member to shine with the release of solo debuts. However, even with the fantastic feat of each member, it has also revealed the solo fanbase rivalry.
The recent display of protest can either be perceived as fans fighting for the idol or the crack in ARMYs’ unity.
On November 13, 2023, fansites posted images of protesters who sent trucks outside the HYBE building, demanding “Respect for Jimin.” According to some of BTS’s Jimin’s fans, BigHit Entertainment (sub-label of HYBE) has lacked in promoting Jimin’s solo debuts. Fans have alleged that the agency has failed to restock “Like Crazy” US single CDs and also discrepancies in streaming numbers. The protestors also questioned why “Like Crazy” has not received RIAA platinum certification. Thus, ‘Respect for Jimin’ is now trending on Twitter in support of the BTS star.
BTS Fans Send Trucks Outside of HYBE Building
A fraction of Jimin’s fans have prepared an extensive statement on why they think Jimin has been mistreated by BigHit Entertainment. They have sent trucks outside the HYBE building. For those unversed, it’s a widespread practice in the K-pop world to send trucks as a form of protest.
Here are the bullet points of their grievances–
- BigHit has not yet submitted RIAA platinum certification for “Like Crazy,” which has already surpassed 1 million units of sale in the USA.
- Streaming counts for the song were dissected into two– one for Korean and the other for English Version. Due to this, the projected numbers dropped significantly.
- Fans have accused BigHit of not keeping an accurate tally of units sold and have failed to restock the single CDs for “Like Crazy.”
- The statement highlights the need for urgent action on malicious comments and false accusations against Jimin on various forums. According to the fans, Bighit is not taking proper measures to protect the artist. They also accuse the agency of the lack of Jimin’s personal activities.
“Respect for Jimin” Trending On X (Twitter)
The trucks sent by the protesting fans outside the HYBE building have a very straightforward message for the agency–
“Is HYBE the agency of BTS Jimin? HYBE is neglecting its duties by not renewing his contract. Please explain why Like Crazy did not receive RIAA platinum certification and why Nomi, Billboard’s top-selling song, was ignored for a single CD restock. Sue malicious comments and anti-gallery and protect artists.”
Soon, the movement gained traction among ARMYs who agreed with the allegations that BigHit Entertainment was neglecting Jimin’s solo debut, and the hashtag “Respect for Jimin” was trending on X (formerly Twitter).
However, the demands have also split opinions, where the other side of the spectrum believes these allegations are hyperbolic and notes that the agency has always supported each member equally.
Which side of the opinion do you lie on? Do you think Jimin is mistreated? What is your take on the fans’ demands? Do you believe that BigHit does favoritism?
Let us know in the comments section below.
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