BTS, BLACKPINK face 'block out' call by award-winning Palestinian journalist
BTS and BLACKPINK—two internationally acclaimed K-pop bands—are currently facing a social media boycott as part of the "block out" movement. This campaign is a reaction to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, with calls for divestment from Zionism and support for Palestine. Interestingly, neither band has publicly addressed the issue yet. The "block out" movement originated during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Why does this story matter?
Over the past seven months, global protests have erupted against the tragic loss of civilian lives in the Gaza Strip. Initially, Israel designated the Egyptian border city of Rafah as a "safe zone" for civilians. However, this assurance faltered when Israel began attacking Rafah as well, prompting over 1.5M Palestinians to seek refuge in dire conditions. The assault on Rafah, while the lavish Met Gala was underway in the US, affected people deeply on social media.
'BlockOut2024' campaign targets 'silent celebrities' amid crisis
The "block out" movement aims to boycott major artists who have remained silent about the crisis. The Met Gala faced criticism for its silence while homes were being destroyed in Rafah in the Gaza Strip. This led to the initiation of "BlockOut2024," a campaign urging users to hold celebrities accountable. Peabody Award-winning Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda highlighted this campaign on Instagram Stories, by posting lists of celebrities to block. Zendaya, Selena Gomez, Gal Gadot are also in this list.
K-pop fans rallied in support of BTS and BLACKPINK
Owda's post sparked controversy among K-pop fans who quickly rallied to defend the groups. Fans felt that BTS was unfairly targeted due to their association with Scooter Braun—CEO of HYBE America—who had made statements on Palestine. In December, Israeli media network Arutz Sheva shared a video of Braun addressing Israelis and calling on Hamas to release its hostages. Meanwhile, hashtags such as "We Support BTS," "We Will Never Leave BTS," and "We Are with BLACKPINK" trended on X/Twitter.
