Why is “Cancelled SUGA” becoming a trend? Misnomer in BTS fan petition exposed

BTS Suga's tour D-Day The Movie will be released in theaters worldwide on April 10th and 13th. But instead of a moment of celebration, fans double down on it as a moment of their proud activism. BTS ARMY's pro-Palestinian protesters are dissatisfied with the concert movie being shown in certain locations.

As more details about the movie premiere were announced by HYBE, fans were more disappointed that certain locations were tabled than upset that other locations didn't get spots. An extensive list of countries and their respective release dates have been announced, and fans have also spotted Israel's name among these diverse lists.

Why is “Cancelled SUGA” becoming a trend?

Despite months of vigorously opposing the relationship between the entertainment company and those involved, who are staunch supporters of the Israeli cause, all BTS fans' demands were ignored. In February, BTS fans launched the first low-key boycott of HYBE products. Ultimately, pro-Palestinian activism took shape in a more overt manner, with fans sending trucks to HYBE's Seoul headquarters demanding the removal of Scooter Braun, CEO of HYBE's American division.

Meanwhile, an online campaign #HYBEDivestFromZionism was formed on social media. They hoped to spread awareness among the public about how Brown's alleged support for Israel goes against everything BTS' overarching message of altruism stands for.

Also read | #HYBEDivestFromZionism Explained: Why BTS fans want K-pop label's American CEO Scooter Braun fired

Due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 32,900, with a reported death toll of 75,000 since the ground invasion of Gaza began, due to essentially linked and outrageous mass destruction. More than one person was injured.

Partnership between HYBE and Universal Music Group

Leveraging Brown's musical influence, HYBE has signed exclusive distribution rights to all HYBE artists for the next 10 years with Universal Music Group. The report on March 26th resulted in another nail in the coffin that fans had long wanted to avoid. From a business perspective, the partnership gives HYBE “access to UMG's major global network,” but fans can't help but point out that UMG's chairman and CEO is Lucien Grainge. I couldn't.

He and the music mogul were recently named in an ongoing lawsuit against Sean 'Diddy' Combs, who he says “aided and abetted” the sexual abuse allegations. The label's team slammed these claims, labeling them “disgusting falsehoods.” But BTS fans are a force to be reckoned with. Even as Korean labels move forward with becoming less sensitive to fan entreaties, a sizable portion of the ARMY still pays close attention to any visible signs of morality.

Fans of SUGA | “Agust D D-Day” movie screening in Israel

In support of genocidal violence, fans united to launch a change.org petition on April 2: https://www.change.org/p/cancel-d-day- movie-screenings-in-israel 2024.

Also read | RIIZE's Seunghan is on indefinite hiatus and excluded from “Siren” official music platform debut: Fans are furious at the deletion

Initially a highly anticipated event, the premiere of a cinematic cut of Suga's encore concert featuring the grand finale of his solo world tour has now become a red flag. Fans are calling for the film to be canceled in Israel as a gesture of humanitarian conscience.

The description of the online petition reads: “While innocent lives are being lost and countless people are suffering from starvation, bombing, and mass murder, we cannot in good conscience support this situation financially. Our fans Dam supports a free Palestine. It is important for companies like HYBE Corporation and Trafalgar Releasing to consider the ethical implications of their decisions and take a firm stand against injustice.”

Among the many main reasons for signing the petition, fans wrote:

• “We do not want Suga or any other member of BTS to be associated with the apartheid government that is currently committing genocide. Mr. Suga and other members of BTS have always been outspoken on political and social issues. and I am sure that if given the opportunity to speak, he would not support his film being shown there. We support the normalization of Zionism and its genocidal program. plug.”
• “We are not going to sit back and watch HYBE support a genocidal regime (the ICJ has ordered Israel to stop genocide, so that is certainly what is happening). Why does this film need to be shown in a country where more than 30,000 civilians, including members of the BTS ARMY and other fandoms, have been murdered? What happened to “Music and Artists for”? Additionally, showing the film in Israel will only harm HYBE artists and HYBE as a company, as multiple performers have faced backlash after performing or screening their work in Israel. It will definitely have a negative impact on HYBE's reputation. As promised, listen to your consumers. ”
• “I think it's cruel to show a movie in a place where another of the more than 30,000 people killed by Israel in Palestine is being massacred. I don't want the community to examine the organization that is…
• “I support Palestine and will not allow the music and lyrics of my favorite artists to be appropriated by a genocidal settler state.”

Also read | BTS' Jungkook makes history at iHeartRadio Music Awards 2024. V and J-Hope also score their first points

But as fans continued to share about the petition on X (formerly Twitter), the discussion turned more vitriolic.

The official title of the theatrical release is “SUGA│Agust D TOUR “D-DAY” THE MOVIE.” The Twitter trend skewed the direction of his campaign online, as this banner uses a special character called a vertical bar to separate BTS Suga's two musical personas. Special characters are not recognized as trend tags.

BTS fans may remember that all online trends during V's FRI(END)S music video promotion were also distorted, with all of these trending keywords listed as just “S” instead of the full title of the song. There may be. The issues that arose plagued the April campaign as well, as active fans persistently shared petition names with special characters. In the end, Twitter, the evil mastermind behind this mess, turned this thought-provoking initiative into yet another violent brawl between fans, and those who joined later saw the trend of “Cancel SUGA” and the worst of it. was assumed.