Sarahxy537 - Someone

*triplefacepalm*

Wow I really fucking hate some “NCTzens”

What gives you the right to think you can chase after the boys? Who do you think you are? Thank god there was a lot of security..

Reblogging because it need to be heard and it’s important.

Why continuing to support Ateez might actually be important/helpful for preventing cultural appropriation in the future

I would like to preface this by saying that I am a person of colour but I am not black. I can and do empathise with black Atiny though I also acknowledge that I cannot fully understand how this affects them. Pain and hurt is always valid and the black community have suffered in ways most of us have not. 

At the same time, I am really sick and tired of ‘cancel culture’ and the lack of nuance when discussing issues such as cultural appropriation. They prevent us from having useful discussions and facilitating change. So let’s break down this issue:

The problem: In a promotional photo for their next comeback, Kim Hongjoong, the leader of Ateez, was styled with cornrows. This is a case of cultural appropriation. 

The response: Fans emailed KQ Entertainment asking for this hairstyle to be changed and KQ responded saying a) this was not done with conscious effort to appropriate/insult another culture, but that they did it to fit with the concept, b) they cannot re-make any of the content that has been completed for album promotions, c) they will ensure that Hongjoong will not wear this hairstyle during album promotions and d) they will apply what they have learned to future comebacks and ensure that this will not happen again. 

Reasons why KQ Entertainment was in the wrong:

Entertainment companies need to start putting resources into educating themselves and their artists. All you need is one (1) person who’s job it is to go over concept ideas. I don’t understand why RESEARCH INTO CONCEPT IDEAS AND THEIR ORIGINS isn’t an industry standard to begin with.  It’s like when you’re writing a fictional story - you DO RESEARCH INTO STORY ELEMENTS. That should be a standard part of creating a ‘concept’ or styling any artist - where does this idea come from? is it COPYING or PLAGIARISING anyone? is it CULTURAL APPROPRIATION? 

So, yes, KQ Entertainment made a grave mistake. Furthermore, their blunder is just the latest in a LONGGGG series of cultural appropriation and racism in K-pop. On top of that, this is a racially-sensitive time. 

I did initially wonder why Hongjoong, who is an activist for multiple platforms and is very aware of how carefully they must navigate different cultures, didn’t point out that cornrows were not appropriate (esp since San said the members were very involved in this comeback). However, we have to remember that Hongjoong exists outside that culture, lives in a country/works in an industry that is notoriously racist/colourist, and would have seen other groups use that hairstyle (esp for Summer comeback - KoKoBop and Boom ring any bells?). I didn’t fully understand the problem with non-black people wearing cornrows (i just thought it was distasteful, fake and try-hard) until someone pointed out how every aspect of blackness has been stereotyped and criminalized. This is NOT something that most people are taught. 

Reasons why people need to FUCKING SETTLE DOWN:

KQ Entertainment’s swift response to their fans was INCREDIBLE. Let me ask all you kpop multis: what did SM do in response to Kai’s dreadlocks and Chenle’s cornrows? There was no explicit apology. There was no attempt to explain themselves. There was no promise to change their behaviour in the future.

KQ Entertainment has shown that they are open to change and education. They have taken action in response to people calling them out. They have apologised for their actions and explained why changes to completed promotional changes cannot be made. 

And now people are complaining that KQ haven’t done enough, sending death threats to Hongjoong and generally spreading a disgusting amount of hate. 

Listen, regardless of how large an entertainment company is, it is highly unlikely that any of them would change promotional material that has already been completed this close to a comeback date. The money and time that requires is ridiculous. It would require pushing back the comeback date. A small company like KQ, whose world tour was recently CANCELLED, cannot afford to do that. And you may criticise them for choosing money over a ‘more important issue’ but let’s discuss how significant this issue is and the best way to facilitate change. 

So we all agree that this is cultural appropriation and that cultural appropriation is bad. We also all agree that KQ has apologised and agreed to make feasible changes. Our response should be to welcome those changes. 

If people just keep criticising the company and ‘cancelling’ them for their choices, then it becomes clear to the WHOLE INDUSTRY that trying to change things and negotiate with fans becomes pointless. They’re going to lose support regardless of what they do. This ‘all-or-nothing’ response is ridiculous. 

Sensationalism and social media have made it really difficult to have a conversation that doesn’t involve two extremes at opposite ends of a spectrum. In reality, most issues should be viewed on a spectrum, in shades of grey. Responding with aggression and hate, labeling a company and their artists as racist because they’ve appropriated one aspect of a culture and publicly shaming them doesn’t help. 

Anti-racism doesn’t mean being an “anti-fan”. EFFECTIVE anti-racism means calling out racists acts (which we’ve done), asking for change (done) and drawing attention to positive behaviours and alternative and reinforce these (WHICH WE ARE NOT DOING).

We have to give KQ Entertainment CONSTRUCTIVE criticism in response to their changes in order for them to recognise that THEY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING. 

Complications: The Harper Bazaar photo shoot - Hongjoong’s hair is styled in braids/cornrows for that photo shoot. It suggests that he was going to have that hairstyle for the majority of their promotions. However, these are still part of promotional material had been completed prior to the teaser photo being dropped. KQ Entertainment truly did not have the time to change it. 

Yes, it looks bad. Yes, KQ Entertainment fucked up. But unless we continue to support Ateez and give them constructive criticism that they can REALISTICALLY APPLY, change will not occur. This is a first step. WE have given Ateez and KQ the opportunity to set a NEW PRECEDENT for the industry. WE have given Ateez and KQ to set a NEW STANDARD.

They can ONLY do this if WE continue to support them and give them a chance to SUCCEED. 

(P.S. - if you’re sending hate to Hongjoong [and there HAVE been death threats] you are cruel and mean as well as implicit in preventing his education)

Please repost with tags of kpop groups so that it can reach more people

They’re also using the reversed version of the symbol and this one ⍕

Various tests always result in Hufflepuff so yeah

Reblog if you're a Hufflepuff.

gryffindor | ravenclaw | slytherin

Thank you for tagging me @maiverie :) I’ve been wanting to do this for a while but never did hehe

So…

S - Sad Girlz Luv Money - Amaarae, Kali Uchis

A - All Night Long - Mary Jane

R - Red Lights - Rini

A - Azúcar Morena - Carla Morrison

H - Honeypie - Jawny

X - XOXO - Somi

Y - You&I - Kim Jong Wan

5 - 5 STAR - CL

3 - 3:15 - Bazzi

7 - 7 Days - NCT Dream

(The temptation I had to put Hey Tayo for H 😆)

Okay so I’m tagging @so-jays @heesunminies @jayflrt @ddeonuism (you don’t have to do this if you don’t feel like)

rules: spell out your url with song titles and tag as many people as there are letters in your url.

J - JEALOUSY BY MONSTA X

E - ENERGETIC BY WANNA ONE

O - OVERDOSE BY EXO

N - NO AIR BY THE BOYZ

T - TESSERACT BY CIX

A - AFTER MIDNIGHT BY WAYV

E - ENEMY BY KARD

I - I LOVE YOU BY TREASURE

L - LOVESICK GIRLS BY BLACKPINK

tagging: @so-jays @heesheartss @heeyunkist @seo-thicc-bin @hwxnghyunjin @moonhoures @wakeyjaykey @jaesspresso @bigbrainenergytingz

Gotta do it

bang chan’s dimple

reblog if you agree

Donate to Ethiopian victims here

Same

Why ARMYs Need To Stop

ARMYs really ruined BTS for me tbh… I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and I’m just so tired and wanna rant

Before I continue, yes I understand that not all ARMYs are toxic, a lot of you are some of the nicest coolest people I’ve ever talked to

But because BTS is so big and the fandom has grown, there are plenty of toxic people within it now and it’s soooo fucking annoying

ARMYs start shit all the time now… like all the time, they say whatever whenever because they think BTS are THE only talented Kpop group for some dumb reason

“This groups rappers could never compare to ours” “Ok but has anyone noticed they’re copying BTS?” “It’s cool that your group won that little award, but BTS went to the BBMAs so…”

I’m so sick and tired of this shit

I know that in some cases y’all are just trying to defend yourselves, but honestly the majority of the time now, I see ARMYs starting stuff before anyone else, not just saying things out of defense

Y’all constantly talk down on other groups like they aren’t talented or something, just because BTS went to the BBMAs, well news flash: Western recognition for a band doesn’t determine their level of talent

All Kpop groups are talented and have worked very hard to get where they are

YES! Even idols under the big three companies! They all trained for years, stay up late working on songs and choreo, and put in lots of time to be the best artists they can be

All Kpop idols have put in their fair share of time and work to be recognized. They all deserve recognition. I’m proud of all of them.

Let me repeat that:

THEY ALL DESERVE RECOGNITION

Let me say this again:

BTS IS NOT THE ONLY KPOP BAND WORTHY OF BEING LOVED AND PRAISED

Don’t get me wrong, I love BTS, and I have for many years. The boys are so talented and I’m glad people are seeing that

I’m just annoyed that y’all will shit on every other band, start rumors about members, and trend rude things about them on Twitter because of your weird obsession of keeping BTS at the “top.”

Which once again, I’ll mention, getting recognized in America isn’t really the “top.”

BTS love other Kpop bands. They love being friends with them and hanging out with them. I’m sure it rips their hearts out when you attack their friends for no good reason.

Other bands deserve the love BTS has, so stop acting this way. It’s embarrassing for the rest of the fandom that knows better and it’s embarrassing for BTS. The way y’all talk about them now paints them as arrogant jerks, but we all know they are far better than that. I’m tired of hearing

“BTS knows they’re better than all other groups” “They won’t let other groups ride on their coattails” “BTS knows they ended all other groups”

Like seriously stop, BTS doesn’t think that way about other groups, those people are their friends, they’re not constantly trying to show them up or be above them.

BTS is doing what they love. They’re making music and sharing it with the world. But because of you guys their messages don’t come off the same way they used to. And people don’t see them the same way anymore either.

You’ve turned them into a spectacle, not artists.

“There’s that Kpop group with the crazy fandom”

It’s not about you ARMY. It’s about the boys you’re supposed to love and support and carry through everything.

It’s not about starting fanwars or acting like other groups aren’t as talented. It’s about sharing how amazing BTS is and showing the world how truly talented they are.

Just share positivity. You know that’s what your boys want. They want you to be kind to others and enjoy their music. Stop constantly hating other groups and accusing them of copying BTS and other such nonsense. (Y’all almost ruining Minos life the other day by passing around misinformation bc that’s how ready y’all are to destroy anyone who isn’t BTS is a whole different rant of mine).

Just love. Spread love. Be kind. Support don’t discourage. Lift up don’t take down. Love don’t hate. I know you know better ARMY. Do better for your boys

-Someone who has made her own mistakes in the past and just wants all of us to move past silly fanwars and unnecessary hatred

Trust me, I know from my own experience that passing around hate helps nothing, be bigger, be better, be kinder

THIS IS A REMINDER FOR ALL FANDOMS, YOU CAN ALL LEARN SOMETHING FROM THIS, DONT START HATE OR WARS

ARMYs aren’t the only ones to blame for unnecessary hate, so I hope you will all take this to heart

An edit to the original post for anyone about to comment what I’ve already been reading in comments today:

1. Yes I know, not all ARMYs, I clarified this originally, I know there’s plenty of people within ARMY who aren’t toxic, I get that, I’m just saying that ARMY grew significantly recently for obvious reasons and therefore by sheer numbers of new fans, there’s a lot more toxicity within this fandom recently, many new fans don’t know how to act and surprisingly I’ve seen a lot of people feeding into their attitudes instead of condemning them for starting shit

2. If you comment hate below this post you’re just proving my point

3. Yes I understand that other fandoms are toxic too, I understand that there’s toxic people in all fandoms, I concentrated on ARMY bc they’re the fandom the whole world is looking at right now due to BTS going to the BBMAs, however just because I used ARMY as an example doesn’t mean what I’m saying doesnt apply to all fandoms, it was a message for all of you to take to heart and understand that fan wars are ridiculous and they need to stop, and if we just let toxic people be and ignore it instead of condemning it as some people suggested, the toxic people will just get worse since they aren’t facing consequences for their harmful behavior, everyone needs to be kept in check

4. My only message here is to stop hate, it’s not to encourage you to push blame to another fandom, or try to argue why someone else is worse. I wasn’t trying to tell y’all you’re wrong for only liking one group. It’s completely ok to like one group and one group only. But it’s not ok to be rude in any way or form to another. That’s my whole message. Stop hate.

ANOTHER EDIT:

If you’re about to comment about the fact that people should just be able to separate their love for a band from the fandom, please go ahead and read the comments to see how many examples there are of people having such scarring times with ARMYs that they literally cannot even look at BTS anymore, once again, I didn’t write this post for you to try to move blame, the whole world is looking at you right now ARMY, you’re causing people to avoid BTS and Kpop altogether, you really cannot separate the two when you love a band because when you scroll through tags and social media to learn more about them, you just see that stuff, it’s not avoidable, and ya, you can ignore it for awhile, but sometimes it becomes overwhelming, and like people in the comments have mentioned, sometimes they were part of ARMY but because of mistreatment by others, being in the fandom and loving BTS were ruined by them, don’t you dare lecture people about “separating fandom and band”