More people have become increasingly aware of the Israel-Palestine Crisis, as over 28,473 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been killed since October. Most of which are women and children. Many survivors have been injured, starved, displaced, and lost their families and friends.
Netizens worldwide are using their voices, hoping to make a change. Businesses such as McDonald’s and Starbucks have been widely boycotted. K-Pop fans have also boycotted the “Big 4” (YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, SM Entertainment, and HYBE).
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 ✩ (@youtifulchaein) January 24, 2024
Fans of HYBE especially have become increasingly concerned about the company’s connection to Zionism. So, netizens have targeted the company 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 ! (@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
HYBE has been under fire 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, fans’ biggest complaint is Scooter Braun, the CEO of HYBE America. Fans have called out his poor management experience as well as long-time support of Israel as reasons why they wish for his removal.
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 (@psbly) 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 (@sugasinterluude) February 23, 2024
Despite the constant hashtags, HYBE has yet to respond to netizens, so protestors have taken 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 account revealed their plan to send a protest truck to the entertainment company building. Netizens shared their support, hoping HYBE would finally take notice of 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/qAOXiASsjs
— fajar⁷ (@younivcrse) February 23, 2024
they’re targeting the account organizing the hybe america protest now pic.twitter.com/mCr3fQ2Vvp
— squid⁷ (@psbly) February 24, 2024
A few hours later, the protest truck was spotted in front of HYBE. The truck included the fans’ demands, Scooter Braun’s photo, and graphic images from Gaza.
We demand the removal of scooter Braun and complete divestment from zionism from HYBE @KBSnews@KBSWorldTV@YonhapNews@koreatimescokr@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 has still not addressed the protest, netizens suspect it was noticed, as Scooter Braun updated shortly after. He shared a photo via Instagram Stories, revealing he was actually in Seoul.
Today, he also updated with a series of photos, including a picture of himself in front of the HYBE building, Seoul sites, and an article boasting HYBE’s record sales. Netizens believe he saw the protest truck against him and posted these photos as a tactic to inform the protesters that he was still very much part of HYBE.
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
— floꪜer⁷ (@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 (@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
Previously, Scooter Braun allegedly attempted to “intimidate” a pro-Palestine fan through direct message. Read more below.
