Recently, the K-pop fan community has been in an uproar over allegations that HYBE exploited dating rumors between V (BTS) and Jennie (BLACKPINK) for strategic gain, particularly in managing the public image of its artists. The leaked internal documents sparked controversy, revealing disturbing details about how the company allegedly handled the rumors and V’s relationship with the public.
In a section of the documents regarding V, it appears that the dating rumors between him and Jennie were seen as an opportunity to relieve some of the pressure on the other BTS members. Specifically, the document states:
“I think V’s dating rumors might actually give the other members some breathing room when it comes to their personal lives. If V is in a real relationship, there’s no reason for people to care about other fan-made OTPs on DC Gallery.
This implies that the rumors about V and Jennie were intentionally or unintentionally used to divert fans’ attention from other fan-made couples, reducing media pressure on other BTS members.
The leaked content related to V has left many fans outraged, especially after learning some of the negative actions taken behind the scenes. Key points include:
- Negative impact on V’s solo album: The document reveals that HYBE left over 1,000 negative comments on forums like TheQoo regarding V’s Stopover album. This was reportedly done to influence public perception of the album, as V chose not to work with in-house producers and directors.
- Suspend investigation of V’s lawsuit against Sojang: The investigation into Sojang, who spread false rumors about V in 2021-2022, was mysteriously suspended by HYBE. Notably, the document reveals that HYBE registered as a VIP member of Sojang’s YouTube channel and used its content in internal dealings, further angering fans.
- Lack of support for V’s solo performance: Fans were also upset that HYBE had failed to prepare enough albums for Stopovercausing the cancellation of over 800,000 sales. Meanwhile, the company reportedly stocked up on albums by other artists from the same conglomerate, perhaps to manipulate first-week sales figures.
