Recently, the K-pop fan community has been in turmoil over allegations that HYBE exploited the dating rumors between V (BTS) and Jennie (BLACKPINK) to gain strategic advantages, particularly in managing the public image of its artists. Leaked internal documents have sparked controversy, revealing unsettling details about how the company allegedly handled rumors and V’s relationship with the public.
In a section of the documents concerning V, it appears that the dating rumors between him and Jennie were viewed as an opportunity to relieve some of the pressure on other BTS members. Specifically, the document states:
“I believe that V’s dating rumors could actually give the other members some breathing room regarding their private 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 either intentionally or unintentionally used to divert fans’ attention away from other fan-created couples, reducing the media pressure on other BTS members.
The leaked contents related to V have left many fans outraged, especially after learning about some of the negative actions taken behind the scenes. Key points include:
- Negative Impact on V’s Solo Album: The document reveals that HYBE allegedly left over 1,000 negative comments on forums like TheQoo about V’s Layover album. This was reportedly done to influence public perception of the album, as V chose not to work with in-house producers and directors.
- Pausing V’s Lawsuit Investigation Against Sojang: The investigation into Sojang, who spread false rumors about V in 2021-2022, was mysteriously put on hold by HYBE. Notably, the document reveals that HYBE registered as a VIP member of Sojang’s YouTube channel and used its content in internal reports, further angering fans.
- Lack of Support for V’s Solo Performance: Fans were also upset that HYBE allegedly failed to prepare enough albums for Layover, causing over 800,000 sales to be canceled. Meanwhile, the company reportedly stocked up on albums from other artists in the same conglomerate, possibly to manipulate first-week sales figures.
