Did HYBE Leverage V and Jennie’s Dating Rumors for Strategic Advantage?

Recently, the K-pop fandom has been abuzz with discontent following allegations that HYBE may have leveraged the dating speculation between V from BTS and Jennie of BLACKPINK for strategic gains, especially concerning the public image of its artists. Internal documents that were leaked to the public have led to significant controversy, exposing troubling insights into how the company seemingly navigated these rumors and V’s relationship with his followers.

Within the particulars of the documents focusing on V, it suggests that the dating rumors involving him and Jennie were seen as a strategic maneuver to alleviate some of the scrutiny facing other BTS members. The documents state:

“I believe that V’s dating rumors could actually give the other members some breathing room regarding their private lives. If V is in a real relationship, there’s no reason for people to care about other fan-made OTPs on DC Gallery.”

This indicates that the speculation surrounding V and Jennie may have been either deliberately or accidentally wielded to shift fan focus away from other fan-constructed couples, thereby easing the media pressure on the remaining BTS members.

The revelations associated with V have incited anger among many fans, particularly upon uncovering some of the detrimental actions taken behind closed doors. Key revelations include:

Adverse Effects on V’s Solo Release: The leaked documents suggest that HYBE may have posted over 1,000 negative comments on platforms like TheQoo concerning V’s Layover album. This maneuver was allegedly aimed at swaying public opinion against the album since V opted out of collaborating with in-house producers and directors.
Delay of V’s Legal Matter Against Sojang: The inquiry into Sojang, who was responsible for spreading falsehoods about V between 2021 and 2022, was seemingly stalled by HYBE. It’s noteworthy that the documents indicate HYBE registered as a VIP member of Sojang’s YouTube channel and utilized its content in internal reports, further inciting fans’ ire.
Insufficient Support for V’s Solo Act: Fans voiced their frustration when it was revealed that HYBE supposedly did not supply enough copies of Layover, leading to the cancellation of over 800,000 sales. Meanwhile, it was reported that the company ensured ample stocks of albums from other artists under its umbrella, perhaps to manipulate sales statistics in the first week.

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