Fans say this is a violation of their rights.
Koreaboo
November 21stThe MAMA Awards 2024 (Mnet Asian Music Awards) began its first night of events at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California. This year, the event has been expanded to three free nights, with the second and third nights taking place on November 22nd and 23rd at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan.
The first night of MOM includes a roster of talented artists, including RIIZE.
However, in the previous weeks, some events changed the way in which RIIZE’s inclusion in the lineup was taken.
After a long pause, the former member was announced Seunghan activities would resume. It was announced that he would no longer be a member of the group a few days later.
Fans began protesting in various ways, including plans to protest at the MAMA Awards ceremony in the United States. Following a list of boycotted items that sparked some controversy, fans began planning creative ways to get their point across.
LA BRIIZE lightstick cover design!!🫧 We hope everyone who attends the MAMA LA Awards can show their support for SEUNGHAN and riize as 7! will post a tutorial on how to make your own 🔜 + I’ll even pass it out for free ‼️ pic.twitter.com/5Az2yNMikv
— lita 🫧sohee day 🥳 riize is 7 years old 🧡 (@strawberrysoob_) November 14, 2024
However, it appears that even protests that were not banned from the banned items list were censored.
Shortly before and after the event began, fans began reporting that venue staff told them that items with the number 7 were not allowed to enter the venue. According to some fans, even items that were only orange, associated with the OT7 protests, were banned, including T-shirts.
why did a security guard at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles just yell at us and say “no banners, no orange, NO 7/SEVEN”!!?!
— 💎 daisy… ✰ (@WANG7_VAV) November 22, 2024
so angry at how the staff treated us, literally acting like they are getting paid, will get a bonus for every cover, banner and project we spent so much time and money on that they will throw away lmfaoo but THEY WILL HEAR US RIIZE IS 7 ‼️😭 #rising7 #mom
— lita 🫧sohee day 🥳 riize is 7 years old 🧡 (@strawberrysoob_) November 22, 2024
guys almost didn’t let me in because I’m wearing an orange blouse oh my god they’re making everyone take off their ribbons and banners ANYTHING OFF ORANGE
— Ashley seeing Riize today‼️💋 (@mexicanbts) November 22, 2024
It is no longer about what is or is not allowed at the event due to the broadcast, but it has become a violation of free speech. How can a consumer be banned because of a color or number? SM, what do you plan to do? Do you think we will shut up and accept it?… pic.twitter.com/9hT3IjqiFC
— 𖤍nali (@riizehq) November 22, 2024
Fans pointed out the seemingly sudden change in what was allowed, criticizing SM Entertainment.
changing the rules when people are already entering the venue is not only disrespectful but also crazy why did you tell people no banners? okay, they changed plans and now you’re even hesitant to let someone in because they have an ORANGE SHIRT? have a little shame
— °ﾟº❍｡ (@xcallburs) November 22, 2024
they can keep funeral wreaths up for days and never take them off, but they almost make people take off their orange clothes…. with or without Seunghan isn’t Riize’s color orange? your company’s choices are so absurd. @SMTOWNGLOBAL pic.twitter.com/HB8NPpqXed
— annoying ☆ (@jellypopology) November 22, 2024
so I can let those heinous wreaths of death stand for days and days, but will that draw the line at fucking bows and 7s??? you’re damn serious… you’ll never silence us!! scream riize is seven as loud as you can!! help us also other kpop fandoms eyekons gllits!!! pic.twitter.com/EXj8dKqech
— bee ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ (@hyowifey) November 22, 2024
