SM Entertainment Faces Backlash After Seunghan’s Sudden Exit

Seunghan, a member of the rising K-pop group RIIZE, has officially withdrawn from the group, leaving many fans shocked and upset. The news came just days after it was announced that Seunghan would return to RIIZE’s schedules, only for his sudden departure to be confirmed on October 13, 2024. As a result, fans and various K-pop fandoms have come together in protest, demanding an explanation and showing their support for Seunghan.

Social Media Boycott Gains Traction

Immediately after the announcement, disappointed fans of RIIZE, known as BRIIZE, initiated a boycott to express their dissatisfaction with how the situation surrounding Seunghan was handled. This protest quickly gained momentum as other K-pop fandoms, including BTS’s ARMY, IVE’s DIVES, and ATEEZ’s ATINY, joined forces, using the hashtag #SMSupportsBullying across social media to show their solidarity.

One tweet supporting the movement read:

“MYs, this is not about #AESPA, let’s support #RIIZE’s fandom BRIIZE, who are going through this difficult time right now. Regardless of the reason for removing a member, let’s show solidarity. BRING BACK SEUNGHAN JUSTICE FOR SEUNGHAN #SMSupportsBullying #FVCKYOUSM #RII7E_or_NONE.”

This boycott is not only limited to expressing discontent on social media but has also led to noticeable changes in RIIZE’s online following.

Significant Drop in Followers

Prior to the October 13 announcement, RIIZE had been enjoying a steady increase in followers across various social media platforms. However, as the boycott gained traction, the group started losing a substantial number of followers.

• On X (formerly Twitter), RIIZE saw their follower count drop from 810,978 to 770,532, a loss of approximately 40,446 followers in a short period.
• Instagram showed an even more dramatic decline, with the group losing around 78,850 followers.
• TikTok, one of RIIZE’s largest platforms, saw a loss of 47,648 followers, dropping from 3,543,847 to 3,496,199.

In total, over 166,000 followers were lost across these three major platforms within 14 hours of Seunghan’s withdrawal announcement. There have been reports of additional drops on YouTube as well, although these numbers have not been fully tracked.

Fans’ Determination: A Movement with Impact

Although some may see the loss of followers as small compared to RIIZE’s overall fanbase, the impact is significant. K-pop groups often gain between 500 and 2,000 new followers daily, meaning that the boycott is offsetting this natural growth and causing a real decline in followers. The fact that fans are able to make such a statement through social media shows their determination to hold SM Entertainment accountable for Seunghan’s exit.

The ongoing protest marks the second time this year that fans have initiated a boycott in support of Seunghan. The previous boycott, though smaller in scale, served as a precursor to the current movement, which has already surpassed its numbers. Fans are clear in their message: they want justice for Seunghan and transparency from RIIZE’s management.

What’s Next for RIIZE?

With RIIZE losing followers rapidly and fans’ frustrations growing, it remains to be seen how the group and their agency, SM Entertainment, will respond. The protest has sparked widespread discussion among fans, and it’s clear that many are not ready to move on from Seunghan’s departure without more answers.

Seunghan, one of RIIZE’s key members, was beloved by fans, and his absence is already being felt deeply. As fans continue their boycott, the situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected in the coming days.

RIIZE’s Social Media Impact (as of October 14, 2024):

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