Seventeen is facing backlash over their recent interactions on Instagram after the latest HYBE exposé.
On November 1st, an alleged HYBE Labels employee exposed several new pages of the 'HYBE Weekly Music Industry Trend Report'. After the additional reports came out on November 2nd, netizens revisited Seventeen members' recent interactions on Instagram.
With screenshots of Seungkwan's post and Seventeen members' comments under his post, one netizen wrote, "Now that I revisit Seugnkwan's Instagram, basically a HYBE idol who did not have to deal with reverse viral marketing (*adversarial disinformation campaigns) wrote something using victim group member's name without addressing HYBE directly. While victims did not comment on his post, Girls' Generation's malicious commenter and others who also did not have to deal with reverse viral marketing are leaving comments saying the world should filled with warmth."
Other netizens chimed in saying:
"That's what Seventeen typically do. I was a former Carat and they usually lay low at first when something happens and then they make a statement repackaging it as something else without apologizing or addressing the controversy. Carat is group focused fandom so it slides and the cycle starts itself again in the near future lol"
"The fact that they didn't have to deal with reverse viral marketing is what they benefited."
"I feel like this is the male idol group's privilege. If LE SSEFRAFIM or ILLIT member made such a post and other members acted this way there wouldn't have been any split reaction like this."
"After seeing what HYBE wrote about NMIXX, reading this makes my blood boil even more..."
"If it's that hard of a job he can always quit. They make billions and buy buildings after performing so why nag the public about how hard they are working? Regular folks work so much harder."
"So Seventeen could have become Dior and Calvin Klein ambassador without being under HYBE? HYBE gave those to Seventeen because BTS went to the military."
"Seventeen seems so opportunist."