BTS and BLACKPINK are facing a social media boycott as a part of a larger “block out” movement in support of Palestine. BTS | Weverse BLACKPINK | @blackpinkofficial/Instagram What is #blockout2024? In the past seven months, the world has mobilized to protest against the indiscriminate killing of civilian lives in the Gaza Strip of Palestine.
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What is #blockout2024?
In the past seven months, the world has mobilized to protest against the indiscriminate killing of civilian lives in the Gaza Strip of Palestine by Israel. At the beginning of this onslaught, Israel reassured that the Egyptian border city of Rafah would be the designated “safe zone” for civilians. As a result, over 1.5 million Palestinians, the majority of whom are children, were sheltering in Rafah in horrible living conditions until Israel started attacking the area as well, raising alarms across the international community. While civilian tents were being bombed in Rafah, at the same time, in the US, the high-fashion event, Met Gala, took place. The contrasting images coming out of Rafah and the Met Gala seemed to have hit too close home for many netizens. At first, they called out the celebrities in attendance for not using their huge platform and wealth to help out in such a major humanitarian crisis. This sentiment then turned into a social media movement, which is being dubbed “BlockOut2024.” The idea is to block any celebrity or corporation who has refused to speak up about Gaza despite having a huge social media presence. The goal here is to send a message against complicity, as well as to hurt the social media earnings of these celebrities at the maximum level.
The movement is gaining steam, keep going! #blockout2024
Block @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/6RGA3ZZ0lD
— Free Palestine (@WildernessWypt) May 10, 2024
PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO.#blockout2024 is a movement where we collectively block the celebrities/influencers who have refused to use their platforms for people in need. their silence has consequences, and it will only be effective if we mass-block them. pic.twitter.com/2cjAJX0p3S
— jude 🍉 (@literarycore) May 9, 2024
#blockout2024 ..🇵🇸
The quickest way to hurt them is by not giving them more money . pic.twitter.com/8PbRA4WvwA
— أروى الفضلي🔻 (@arwaalfadly) May 10, 2024
BTS and BLACKPINK’s Involvement
Though the movement was started by some TikTok creators, it gained pace quickly across all social media platforms. On May 11, Bisan Owda, the Palestinian journalist who recently won the prestigious Peabody Award for her ground reporting from the Gaza Strip, posted an Instagram story showing her support for the “BlockOut2024” movement.
In a series of stories afterward, Owda re-posted multiple lists created by another prominent account, @landpalestine, naming celebrities to be blocked. Among those names were the official Instagram handles of BTS and BLACKPINK. The latter group’s member, Lisa‘s personal Instagram handle, was also included.
Fan Response
After Owda made the posts, it stirred up the K-Pop fandoms, especially BTS fans, who have been divided over HYBE’s association with Zionism for a while now. On the one hand, some fans felt that the list unfairly targeted BTS, who are currently enlisted in the military and, hence, are probably bound by stricter state laws that restrict them from making statements about the issue.
Non armys dont know bts are enlisted but fans do, you’re free to block them of course but as a fan you should not put them on the same level as actual zionists or lump them with the actual evil people, you should clear their name of any misunderstandings
— jin’s wife (REAL) (@chibiseokjini) May 11, 2024
Are you dumb or what?? Them making a political statement while being in the military of a country which is fully funded by US (israel’s bestie) along with the fact that sk has close ties with israel??? Why do yall want to make this ABT BTS tho? Yall r insane for this actually https://t.co/DzymArOPpV
— 🎶Noons.🤭 🍉🕊 (@SlayTan_Jk) May 11, 2024
conflicted about the whole blocking bts thing because i believe they aren’t speaking up because they have literally been forced to serve the sk military where they will get in trouble (jail) if they speak out on politics
— the bts misser (@jimin985_) May 11, 2024
On the other, many felt that this was unavoidable, especially due to HYBE’s refusal to represent BTS in their absence and respond to divestment calls with even closer ties with popular Zionist figures in the industry.
Even if the boys can’t speak, HYBE should’ve done their absolute best to distance themselves and their artists as far away from this shit as possible but no they stayed silent while zionists use their platform to support genocide uncensored.
— kens• lilac lieutenant (@dulseokbangtan) May 11, 2024
hybe acting like they didn’t give a fuck about the divestment campaign is what led us to this. it’s been months and they’ve only strengthened their ties to zionism
— ജ⁷🐈⬛ (@jeonderqueer) May 11, 2024
It isn’t illegal for hybe. https://t.co/bFK3tnorNw
— nush 🐈⬛ (@koonushmy) May 11, 2024
this. hybe is not neutral. neutral means that people who represent them are neutral. scooter is loudly Zionist and they’ve let him and his minions have a free run. they’re fine with it. that’s not neutrality. https://t.co/fBeAdND8Wb
— an🍉 watch dead boy detectives ! (@moonchildbichen) May 11, 2024
this is exactly what palestinian army were trying to prevent, what we as pro pal army were trying to prevent. what we as people with fucking human decency were trying to get hybe to listen to and understand that they need to divest.
yall all were worried about fucking charts +
— bino. 🕷️ (@AGUSTBRI_) May 11, 2024
While some fans who disagreed kept their arguments related to BTS’s enlistment, some went so far as to question the authenticity of Bisan Owda’s stance on the matter. They were, however, swiftly shot down with reminders that Owda is currently in Gaza amidst bombs and tanks that are taking civilian lives every minute, and as someone living the ground reality of this catastrophe, she has every right to call for necessary action.
Yeah no i need this account GONE pic.twitter.com/QppsnPkE2o
— praveen (yunah lover) (@txtlittan) May 11, 2024
“Imagine saying ‘this xyz don’t speak about palestine, they don’t care about palestine’
first of all, who are you slandering them like that? who are you to judge people that quickly? Know your place! You think they are avengers or what?”
— Lea #BTSto1B 🇵🇸 (@Miss__Muslim) May 11, 2024
bisan is currently living in a tent in rafah and you’re telling her she’s “losing the plot” from your comfy four walls in america or europe all because she added your favourite artists to the blocklist??
— al(ice)⁷ 🐈🍉🫒🔻 (@springsomnia) May 11, 2024
even if yall dont agree with the blocklist u should be listening to bisan, if a palestinian tells u to do something u should do it! but do not use this blocklist as performative activism it is not an excuse to put bare minimum effort into everything else you still need to strike. https://t.co/zfzkra0uN9
— caitlin STRIKE WEEK SEE PINNED (@foliebrainrot) May 11, 2024
you all need to leave Bisan alone, go offline and touch some fucking grass. i get yall’s favs are away and you are upset by this but there are more serious problems than uour fav on this blocklist?? https://t.co/uma30BiN4O
— melian ☾☼ | 🍉 (@binchanlvr) May 11, 2024
Some K-Pop fans have also responded with an extended list of K-Pop artists to add to this blocklist, arguing that though BTS and BLACKPINK are the most popular ones overseas, other idols and artists are also guilty of the same silence as them.
“a list of KPOP idols/musicians for #blockout2024 pic.twitter.com/cYFzqIn9zZ”
— Haaaaaari⁷ 🍉 (@pporapippamm) May 11, 2024
“List of Hybe @ to block during #blockout2024:@HYBEOFFICIALtwt@HYBE_MERCH@HYBE_LABELS_JP@DARKMOON_HYBE@hybe_geffen_aud@SOURCEMUSIC@weverseofficial@weverseshop@THESTARSEEKERS_@GREYCITY_HYBE@KOZ_Entofficial@BELIFTLAB@SMTOWNGLOBAL@TXT_bighit@OfficialNUESTjp@pledis_17”
— maren (bora b!tch)⁷ 🍉 (@mingl0sspd) May 11, 2024
