Since October, at least 37,296 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been killed. Most of which are women and children. Now, at least 85,197 have been injured, while many are starved, displaced, and lost their families and friends.
As the world becomes more aware of the ongoing genocide against Palestine, netizens worldwide are using their voices, hoping to make a change. Businesses such as McDonald’s and Starbucks have been widely boycotted. Even K-Pop fans have chosen to boycottthe “Big 4” (YG Entertainment,JYP Entertainment,SM Entertainment, andHYBE).
🚨We are gonna boycott the groups under the big 4 companies all the way until January 28‼️
PLS SPREAD AND BOYCOTT THE BIG4 COMPANIES TO HELP PALESTINE 🇵🇸 #StrikeForPalestine #strikeagaintsthe4 pic.twitter.com/lUe0dBLsBs
— sofia 樂 (@8SunshineFelix) January 22, 2024
Update on the boycott!! We are extending the time and are now boycotting all kpop companies not just the big 4. Please continue boycotting! 🫶 pic.twitter.com/CMD4T1ANTD
— Aelia BXX ✩ (@youtifulchaein) January 24, 2024
Fans of HYBE artists are especially concerned about the conglomerate company’s ties to Zionism. So, they have attempted to target the company by using the hashtag #HYBEDivestFromZionism.
HYBE,
YOU MUST DISASSOCIATE YOURSELF ENTIRELY FROM ZIONISM, CUT TIES WITH ZIONIST INDIVIDUALS/ORGANIZATIONS, AND DIVEST FROM ZIONIST PRODUCTS NOW. REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN.@HYBEOFFICIALtwt @hitmanb #HYBEDivestFromZionism #하이브시오니스트를제거하다 pic.twitter.com/QG43dAv2EF
— cam⁷ ! 🍉 FALESTA (@seokfilmz) January 29, 2024
HYBE, hear us out and disassociate from the Zionists. You have enough resources to research which artists your company should work with and which brands you should collaborate with.
Now is the time to think beyond business!#하이브시오니스트를제거하 #HYBEDivestFromZionism… pic.twitter.com/XkWhB8z7o9
— ENHYPEN ASIA 🗝️ (@AsiaEnhypen) January 5, 2024
Over the past months, HYBE has been heavily criticized for its collaborations with Western artists such as Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Bella Poarch, as well as a backup dancer, all of whom previously supported Israel. Still, netizens’ biggest objection is Scooter Braun, the CEO ofHYBE America. Fans have long been dissatisfied with his poor management experience, but his long-time support of Israel has K-Pop fans demanding his removal from HYBE.
now is the time to scream it from the rooftops
this is no space for genocide enablers
HYBE REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN#하이브시오니스트를제거하다 #HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/uIPpwyltJr
— squid⁷ (@outrosquid) February 28, 2024
some of you need to watch this since its kpop over anything for you guys
HYBE DIVEST FROM ZIONISM
HYBE REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN #하이브시오니스트를제거하다 #HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/tT7r5DjY4l— silvia⁷💫 bro boycotter🍉 (@sugasinterluude) February 23, 2024
Despite the constant trending hashtags, HYBE has not adequately acknowledged the demands. Protestors even took it a step further by sending a protest truck to HYBE.
.@HuffPostKorea 하이브 아메리카 최고 경영자의 팔레스타인 대량학살 지지 소식에 대해 알고 계신가요?
ARMY는 이를 묵인하지 않을 것입니다. 하이브에게는 시오니스트 스쿠터 브라운과의 협력 중단 및 시온주의적 인맥 완전 거부가 필요합니다.#하이브시오니스트를제거하다 #HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/TRl6MHTYfP— Shoch⁷ 🐊 (@mitskologist) February 23, 2024
On February 23, an X (formerly Twitter) account shared its plan to send a protest truck to HYBE’s building. Fellow ARMYs shared their support, hoping HYBE would finally notice the protest.
the trucks are outside hybe. now is the time to be louder than ever before, armylegends!
HYBE REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN#하이브시오니스트를제거하다 #HYBEDivestFromZionism
https://t.co/qAOXiASsjsSee AlsoTop Social Media Stars & Internet CelebritiesAngélica Garcia's Intuition: How 'Gemelo' Was Born By Embracing L.A., Ancestry & Spanish Language | GRAMMY.comWho is Usher Raymond’s wife, Jennifer Goicoechea?TikTok guide: what it is and how it works— fajar⁷ 🍉 (gojo's version) (@younivcrse) February 23, 2024
they’re targeting the account organizing the hybe america protest now pic.twitter.com/mCr3fQ2Vvp
— squid⁷ (@outrosquid) February 24, 2024
A few hours later, the protest truck was spotted in front of the HYBE building. The truck featured Scooter Braun’s photo, graphic images from Gaza, and fans’ demands.
We demand the removal of scooter Braun and complete divestment from zionism from HYBE ‼️@KBSnews@KBSWorldTV@YonhapNews@koreatimesco*kr@official_naver
HYBE REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN#하이브시오니스트를제거하다 #HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/fWRINQI2sP
— roses ⁷ (@namgiiist) February 25, 2024
WE HAVE TRUCKS OUTSIDE HYBE!
USE THE FOLLOWING HASHTAGS AND TAG THE MEDIA ACCOUNTS MENTIONED IN THE THREAD BELOW #하이브시오니스트를제거하다 #HYBEDivestFromZionism https://t.co/rEdePwk1jG https://t.co/r6XiQwAzjt— sugawa⁷ (@sugawainscoting) February 23, 2024
— Cin⁷⁼¹ ❄️ (@shangguanlan28) February 24, 2024
Korean and International ARMY demand HYBE divests from Zionism and Zionists in the industry.
If our demands are not met, ARMY will continue to push for you to meet our demands.
Do not look away when the same thing that happened to your Korean ancestors is happening to Palestinians.
We ask that you stand for humanity, for the right side of history, and against violence.
— Protest truck video
While HYBE hadn’t addressed the protest, netizens suspected it was noticed because Scooter Braun updated Instagram shortly after. He revealed he was actually in Seoul at that time.
Later, he updated with a series of photos, including a picture of himself in front of the HYBE building, Seoul locations, and an article boasting HYBE’s record sales. Netizens think this was his tactic to “inform the protestors” that he was going nowhere after seeing the truck. Prior to this, Scooter Braun allegedly attempted to “intimidate” a pro-Palestine fan through direct message.
NOW is the time to push it even harder. trend the tags, send email & physical letters, join for in person protests and SPEAK UP rn. we need to unite and make them hear us. enough of all this.
‼️HYBE Remove Scooter Braun‼️#하이브시오니스트를제거하다 #HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/lGzX1aswM4
— flower⁷ (@tulipstfu) February 26, 2024
scooter braun is mocking the fans who built that company in the face. @HYBEOFFICIALtwt what part of we want him gone do you not understand? @hitmanb smiling a lil too much?? That man is a zionist and y'all have no spine. #하이브시오니스트를제거하다 #HYBEDivestFromZionism ‼️ pic.twitter.com/a0ys4l1ALg
— dan誓い (@sylvbin) February 28, 2024
this is literally him sneering at us pic.twitter.com/Qbojutih9b
— ayesha (@whooperjin) February 28, 2024
that man is literally trying to infest your company that you care so much about with his fellow parasites aka zionists. he’ll put your artists and their hard work in jeopardy while you wait and watch.
HYBE REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN#하이브시오니스트를제거하다 #HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/cAJzTgPp2h
— Haaaaaari⁷ 🍉 (@pporapippamm) February 26, 2024
K-Pop fans’ concerns only increased when HYBE entered a 10-year deal with Universal Music Group (UMG) in March. The agreement was signed by UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, HYBE chairman Bang Si Hyuk (also known as Bang PD), and HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun.
Chairman Bang, Scooter Braun and Park Jiwon have brought an innovative and progressive vision to the industry that underscores music’s global power. With the opportunities in engaging the superfan via their groundbreaking Weverse model, we’re thrilled to grow and expand our platform business collaboration as we evolve together leading the music industry’s evolution.
— Lucian Grainge
UMG is involved in the Diddy case RIGHT NOW which involves sex trafficking, ped0s, the list goes on.
I need every single ARMY, no matter your boycott stance, to go absolutely ballistic at HYBE right now. #HybeDivestFromZionism is apparently just the tip of the iceberg. https://t.co/z1KuHY8etp
— 🌺🍃🌱⁷🥢🍉 (@peachteajin) March 26, 2024
There is active boycott happening while scooter and bongo are holding hands and making deals and rubbing it on everyone’s face … y’all don’t drag this naked mole rat bingo
— Mint Yoongi (@PeachesMinty) March 26, 2024
Now, Scooter Braun has announced his second chapter: his retirement from music management after 23 years. Yet, he revealed that now he can focus primarily on his life as a father and HYBE America CEO. He shared his goals in a ten-page slide via Instagram.
Naturally, this announcement has fans of HYBE artists concerned, as this is the opposite of what they have been protesting for. They found his statements especially alarming, as he claimed that he and Chairman Bang share the same vision. Not only that, he name-dropped many of the most popular HYBE artists.
so he's "retiring" to put all his focus on hybe instead . it's so over we're so f*cked https://t.co/Iv6E3SxnSW pic.twitter.com/0LYUwiaLFx
— president boosadan (@profboos) June 17, 2024
scooter braun just name dropped almost every group under hybe and specifically kept mentioning his work with jk… it is high time you all boycott if you haven’t because this raging zionist is leeching harder than ever.#하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 #HybeDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/rbwgD74cxs
— camy ⋆ (@jiminterludez) June 17, 2024
I need scooter braun out of here. I’m so f*cking serious. If his statement didn’t fill you with rage i don’t know what will.
— 💭⁷ (@namgi_fm) June 17, 2024
"solo career of jung kook […] the other members of BTS" not only is he a disgusting genocide supporter, but he constantly throws jk under the bus, and NEVER respects the other 6. they deserve better.
REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN.#HYBEDivestFromZionism#하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 pic.twitter.com/pMwdkULJVf
— sky⁷ 🍓🎀🍉 (@kittysmimi) June 17, 2024
Netizens resurfaced his problematic history with artist management and Zionist actions.
"Scooter Braun whose name comes up in the book about the drug trafficking fratbros"
🛴 also got his start selling fake IDs to underage students & hosting parties in Atlanta as the "White Puff Daddy"
Hear that @HYBEOFFICIALtwt ?
REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN#HybeDivestFromZionism https://t.co/xhexUw8uLZ pic.twitter.com/NbzGu3uw1S
— JKs_Waist⁷💜✨️ (@JKs_Waist) June 13, 2024
scooter braun is declaring that he is completely a part of hybe and he’s gonna be more loud about it going forward. if this doesn’t make you move to boycott, be ready to face the consequences and i promise they won’t be good. both for you and your artists. pic.twitter.com/e9Ru0dxspm
— Haaaaaari⁷ 🍉 (@pporapippamm) June 17, 2024
“23 years” Scooter Braun is just laughing in everyone’s faces. I have to remind y’all that PSY was forced to perform in the terrorist state “Israel”, he REFUSED, got dropped & blackballed by Scooter.#하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 #HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/Z6UJOHSZTI
— maro⁷🔻FREE PALESTINE 🍉 (@btsadmirer96) June 17, 2024
now get him to retire from hybe. he is a staunch zionist who has praised netanyahu several times, raised money for the iof, and actively celebrates the genocide of Palestinehttps://t.co/6jXhT76LD5 https://t.co/HBwqkMiFZ2
— Dia⁷ 🧡🤍🍉 (@themwithluv) June 17, 2024
Like 8 years ago Scooter Braun was openly plotting his political career, then Taylor exposed his dirty empire, mad woman exposed his cheating ass, his wife left him, his OG cash cow became unable to function, his artists left him and now he’s one of the most hated men in America. https://t.co/eA3EH8gP07 pic.twitter.com/EgCrhgi8LL
— ✨R.✨ 🎸✨ (@dntlikeacidrock) June 17, 2024
More than ever, netizens are encouraging one another to boycott HYBE until Scooter Braun is removed from his position.
he is literally just spitting on our efforts and mocking us lmfao. antiboycotters who have been saying that he "isn't that involved" WELL HERE IS YOUR PROOF HE EXPLICITLY IS! it isn't too late to join the boycott keep pushing
HYBE REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN#HybeDivestFromZionism https://t.co/zLHrd9HCW9
— levi⁷ (@stillwithrkives) June 17, 2024
now get him to retire from hybe. he is a staunch zionist who has praised netanyahu several times, raised money for the iof, and actively celebrates the genocide of Palestinehttps://t.co/6jXhT76LD5 https://t.co/HBwqkMiFZ2
— Dia⁷ 🧡🤍🍉 (@themwithluv) June 17, 2024
I will not be satisfied until he no longer walks this earth. Also, it's so embarrassing that a genocidal nazi can allegedly retire under your company instead of you firing him. Scooter Braun is a stain on Hybe's legacy that will never wash out.
— def not kens⁷ | certified boogeyman (@minimoniam) June 17, 2024
Scooter Braun didn't retire from artist management, all of his artists left him. You should do the same. #HybeDivestFromZionism #하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라!!!
— def not kens⁷ | certified boogeyman (@minimoniam) June 17, 2024
Many fear that even then, Braun’s damage to HYBE will already be done.
