A Call for Compassion and Accountability: Palestine, Apartheid, and Kpop

Trigger warning: Death Threats, Mental Illness and Racism

As a moderator of this space, and more importantly, as a Black South African woman who has stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people long before October 7th, I am writing to address a complex issue within the Kpop community.

This community, like many others, is not exempt from difficult conversations. What is needed is less weaponization of language and stan behavior but more accountability and compassion. This includes the ongoing oppression of Palestinians, the hypocrisy and selective advocacy often present in fandoms, and the need for safe spaces where marginalized voices can be heard without fear.

I want to emphasize that while I am using the J-Hope situation as an example, this is not solely about him or BTS. This is about all fandoms, big and small. The patterns we are seeing—blind idol worship, selective advocacy, mob mentality, and harassment—are issues that have existed across Kpop and many other entertainment industries. It is critical that we hold space for nuance while demanding accountability, not just from our idols but from ourselves as fans.

Like many of you, I am also an army. I have found joy, comfort, and inspiration in BTS's music and message. However, to be a part of any fandom, is to engage critically with the world around us. This means recognizing injustice, amplifying marginalized voices, and ensuring that our support does not inadvertently contribute to harm. It means acknowledging that our faves are people who are capable of making mistakes. They are not gods. My relationship with Kpop, idol culture, and everything surrounding it is currently very complex in my head, and I’m working through it as I go.

As a "born free" South African, I did not experience formal apartheid. However, its legacy continues to impact my family and community. We continue to grapple with economic apartheid and other social ills that disproportionately affect Black South Africans. Seeing the parallels between South Africa's past and the current situation in Palestine fuels my commitment to stand in solidarity with all those facing oppression. While I am not here to discuss those issues right now, I bring them up because they inform my perspective on systemic oppression and solidarity with Palestine. The systemic oppression Palestinians face today mirrors apartheid-era South Africa: forced displacement, segregation, violence, and denial of basic rights as you know.

As Nelson Mandela said, "We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians."

The Parallels Between South Africa and Palestine

The forced displacement, segregation, and denial of basic rights experienced by Palestinians echo the injustices of apartheid South Africa. As Chris Hani stated, "If you want peace, then you must struggle for social justice." Liberation is a collective responsibility that extends beyond geographical borders.

Additional Quotes from Freedom Fighters:

Steven Biko: "Without justice, there can be no peace."

Chris Hani: "What is it that constitutes the freedom and dignity of all? Is it not equality of opportunity, access to education and health services, equal access to economic resources, and the end to all forms of discrimination?"

Albert Luthuli: "Our vision has always been that of a democratic society where people of all races live together in harmony and with equal opportunities."

Robert Sobukwe: "There is only one race to which we all belong, and that is the human race."

Dora Tamana, a prominent anti-apartheid activist, addressed the challenges faced by marginalized communities and the importance of collective action: "You who have no words, speak. You who have no homes, speak. You who have no schools, speak. You who have to run like chickens from the vulture, speak. Let us share our problems so that we can solve them together. We must free ourselves."

Nokukhanya Bhengu, an influential member of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL), emphasized the role of women in the struggle for freedom: "We women were fighting against the denigration of our humanity. We had seen what happened to our menfolk who had to carry passes and we did not want the same to happen to us."

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a key figure in the anti-apartheid movement, reflected on the resilience and sacrifices of Black South African women: "The years of imprisonment hardened me... Perhaps if you have been given a moment to look back, you realize that the struggle is not only about yourself. It is about those who have no voice."

The final 3 quotes highlight the pivotal roles South African women played in the fight against apartheid, emphasizing themes of resilience, collective action, and the pursuit of justice. Which I believe is important in the context of today's post.

The Hypocrisy of Selective Advocacy

It is disheartening to witness the selective advocacy prevalent in some K-pop fandoms. Many fans are quick to support social justice causes when they are trendy, but they often remain silent—or even hostile—when it comes to Palestinian liberation or other difficult conversations. This hypocrisy undermines the very principles these fans claim to uphold and harms communities that rely on solidarity for advocacy.

One recent example involves the controversy surrounding J-Hope’s collaborations and alleged ties to Zionist individuals or entities. It is crucial to approach these issues with sensitivity and a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.

HYBE's Zionist Ties

HYBE Corporation has faced boycott campaigns due to its association with Scooter Braun, an outspoken supporter of Zionism. Fans have called for HYBE to sever ties with Braun, citing his vocal support for Israel and the implications of these business associations. [Hollywood Reporter]

Other Collaborations

Numerous K-pop idols and groups have faced criticism for collaborating with brands perceived as supporting Israel. Notable instances include:

  • NCT's Collaboration with Starbucks Korea: In May 2024, NCT partnered with Starbucks Korea for a promotional campaign. Despite Starbucks Korea operating independently from its global counterpart, fans criticized the group due to Starbucks' perceived support for Israel, leading to calls for boycotts. [Celeb Confirmed]

  • Stray Kids, ITZY, and NMIXX's Collaboration with Coca-Cola: In February 2024, these groups collaborated with Coca-Cola for a themed release. Fans expressed disappointment and called for boycotts, citing Coca-Cola's alleged operations in Israeli settlements, which are considered violations of international law. [Bradley Scout]

  • Multiple K-pop Companies' Ties with Pro-Israel Brands: In early 2024, fans launched the #StrikeAgainstThe4 campaign, targeting SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and HYBE. The boycott addressed these companies' advertisement contracts with brands like McDonald's and Burger King, which have been criticized for supporting Israel. [Spieltimes-Fans Annouce Boycott List]

These incidents underscore the sensitivity within the K-pop community regarding affiliations with brands perceived as supporting Israel, reflecting fans' heightened awareness and activism concerning global humanitarian issues.

J-Hope has also worked with artists like Benny Blanco, raising concerns about indirect support for Zionist-adjacent individuals or groups. These collaborations, while not explicitly political, highlight the complexities of global entertainment industries and the responsibilities that come with visibility and influence.

The Dangers of Mob Mentality and Stan Culture

The dangers of mob mentality within stan culture cannot be overstated. It creates an environment where harassment, dogpiling, and even death threats become normalized forms of discourse, often over minor disagreements or perceived slights against idols. This not only silences critical conversations but actively harms individuals within these spaces.

The recent incident involving death threats from K-pop fans, as highlighted in the Reddit post J-Hope's Zionism is Insane and I'm Done, underscores a troubling aspect of fan culture. This behavior not only threatens individual safety but also reflects deeper psychological and societal issues within fandoms.

Psychological Impact of Online Death Threats

Receiving death threats online can have profound psychological effects on victims. Such threats weaponize anxiety, instilling a pervasive sense of fear and vulnerability. This form of harassment can lead to panic attacks, hypervigilance, and long-term trauma. As noted in an article by Vice, a death threat "tosses a bomb into another person's mind," creating an environment of constant dread. (Vice)

Mob Mentality in Fandoms

The collective behavior observed in fandoms often mirrors characteristics of mob mentality. When individuals identify strongly with a group, they may adopt behaviors they wouldn't typically exhibit alone, including aggression towards perceived outsiders or dissenters. This phenomenon is exacerbated in online environments where anonymity reduces accountability. A Psychology Today article discusses how group cohesion can sometimes pivot towards mutual hatred, leading to toxic behaviors within fan communities. (Psychology Today) 

Instances of K-pop fans attacking Black and BIPOC fans have been documented, particularly when issues of cultural appropriation or racial insensitivity are raised. Notable examples include:

  1. ENHYPEN's Heeseung Alleged Racial Slur Incident (July 2021): Black fans of ENHYPEN faced significant backlash after expressing concerns that member Heeseung allegedly mouthed a racial slur while listening to SZA’s "Love Galore." The majority of the abuse occurred on Weverse, a platform where fans connect with K-pop artists. The situation escalated to the point where a protective account, the Black Engene Protection Team, was established to monitor and report instances of anti-Blackness within the fandom.
  2. General Hostility Towards Black K-pop Fans: Black K-pop fans have reported experiencing racism and exclusion within fandom communities. Instances include being attacked and gaslit for pointing out cultural appropriation by idols. This behavior underscores a broader issue of anti-Blackness within K-pop fandoms, where Black fans' concerns are often dismissed or met with hostility.[The Guardian]

These incidents highlight the challenges Black and BIPOC fans face within K-pop communities, particularly when addressing issues related to race and cultural sensitivity.

The Prevalence of Death Threats in K-Pop Fandoms and How to Address Them

The phenomenon of death threats within K-pop fandoms has become increasingly alarming, often surfacing when idols or fans express opinions that deviate from the majority within their community. Death threats are not a new issue in online spaces, but their frequency and severity within K-pop fandoms reflect deeper systemic problems related to stan culture, groupthink, and the toxic side of fan engagement. In K-pop, these behaviors are exacerbated by intense parasocial relationships, where fans develop deep emotional attachments to idols, sometimes perceiving them as personal extensions of themselves. When these idols are criticized, some fans take it as a personal attack, reacting with hostility to silence dissenters.

The Impact on Communities and Open Discourse

The widespread nature of death threats and aggressive behavior within K-pop fandoms has serious consequences for online communities. When fans fear retaliation for speaking out, it leads to:

  • Silencing Critical Conversations: Those who raise important issues—whether about an idol's actions or systemic problems within the industry—are often harassed into silence.
  • Reinforcing Echo Chambers: If only one narrative is allowed, fans are prevented from engaging in meaningful discussions that could lead to progress and accountability.
  • Mental Health Consequences: Receiving a death threat, even from an anonymous source, can cause anxiety, stress, and trauma, especially for young fans who may not know how to process such hostility.

How to Deal with Death Threats in Fandom Spaces

If you or someone you know experiences death threats within a fandom, here are steps to take:

  1. Do Not Engage: Engaging with aggressors can escalate the situation. Instead, document the threats and report them.
  2. Report & Block: Use platform-specific reporting tools to flag harmful messages. Blocking aggressors removes their ability to interact with you.
  3. Strengthen Privacy Settings: Limit who can contact or tag you on social media to reduce exposure to harmful messages.
  4. Seek Support: Reach out to trusted friends, support groups, or mental health professionals if the threats are affecting your well-being.
  5. Hold Platforms Accountable: Encourage better moderation practices on social media to combat harassment and ensure safer digital spaces.

The Power of Boycotts

In light of these concerns, many fans have chosen to participate in boycotts as a means of expressing their disapproval and advocating for change. Boycotts are a nonviolent method of resistance that has been used throughout history to challenge injustice and promote social change. As you may know, the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa relied on boycotts to pressure businesses and governments to end segregation. There have been many examples of this in and out of the West.

Cultural Appropriation and the Erasure of BIPOC Voices

Another area of concern within the Kpop community is the issue of cultural appropriation. BIPOC fans have long voiced concerns about idols appropriating elements of their cultures without understanding or respecting their origins. These concerns are often met with dismissive responses, silencing BIPOC voices and perpetuating harm.

One particularly hurtful response is the suggestion that BIPOC fans who are critical of cultural appropriation should "just stop listening to Kpop." This response is not only dismissive but also reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the issue. BIPOC fans are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for respect and recognition. They are asking for their voices to be heard and their cultures to be valued. We should not have to remove themselves rather than educate and healthily enjoy art without being the butt of the joke?

Cultural Appropriation, Safe Spaces, and Moderation

BIPOC fans have long voiced concerns about idols appropriating elements of their cultures without understanding or respecting their origins. These concerns are often met with dismissive responses, silencing BIPOC voices and perpetuating harm.

This subreddit, r/kpopnoir, exists to provide a safe space for marginalized fans to engage in critical discussions about Kpop and related issues. We recognize that these conversations can be difficult, and we are committed to fostering an environment of respect and understanding. We commit to active and consistent practices so as not to perpetuate hatred.

Our moderation practices are guided by the following principles:

  • All posts and comments are filtered through a mod queue for review. This allows the mod team to evaluate content based on our established posting guidelines before it becomes visible to the community.
  • Our automod system is configured to flag and remove content that violates community guidelines, such as hate speech, personal attacks, and spam.
  • We actively monitor Reddit's policy changes and adjust our moderation practices to ensure user safety and privacy protection.

Educational Resources and Video Essays:

Final Thoughts: A Call for Compassion and Accountability

While r/kpopnoir and the BIPOC community on this subreddit hold space for each other, we are not a monolith, and we have differing opinions. The goal is to have these discussions properly and free from bigotry.  We are committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive community where all voices are valued. We also acknowledge that our understanding of these complex issues is constantly evolving. We are open to feedback and suggestions on how we can improve our moderation practices.

The assumption that because the mod team is predominantly Black, we all think the same way. The idea that our shared racial identity makes us a monolith is, at best, a misunderstanding and, at worst, a microaggression that dismisses the diversity of thought within our team. Just like any group of people, we have differing perspectives, values, and lived experiences that shape our views.

Our discussions as moderators are often filled with debate, disagreement, and reflection, and we extend the same courtesy of open dialogue to the subreddit as a whole. It is disheartening when our Blackness is pointed to as a justification for reducing our perspectives to a single voice. This erases the individuality and autonomy of each mod who dedicates time and effort to this space. We are human, we make mistakes, and we are constantly learning.

As a mod team, we also recognize that POC on this sub are not a monolith. We are a diverse group with a wide range of perspectives and experiences. The purpose of this sub is to foster a community of accountability and safety and not necessarily agreement.

We also encourage all users to protect themselves online:

  • Set Boundaries: Limit exposure to toxic discussions.
  • Block/Report: Use tools to safeguard your mental health.
  • Seek Support: Connect with others who share your values.

To all Palestinian Muslims and other Muslim users on the sub observing Ramadan: Ramadan Kareem/Mubarik. To Fellow Catholics observing Lent: May your fasting bring peace and reflection.

Solidarity is not a destination but a journey. It requires ongoing effort, a willingness to listen, and a commitment to justice. Let’s engage in these difficult conversations with compassion and a shared commitment to change.

Thank you for reading. I deeply appreciate your engagement in these difficult conversations.

It is also important to recognize that this is World Women's Month. Women and children are disproportionately affected by violence and conflict, both in Palestine and around the world. In South Africa, gender-based violence is a pervasive crisis. I encourage those who are able to support organizations working to empower women and end violence.

Donation Links:

Posted edited to remove a video source.