HYBE Faces Major Heat For Allegedly Attempting To Deceive BTS Fans

HYBE is once again in hot water with some BTS fans.

On May 9, KST, the official social media channels of BTS announced the screening of J-Hope‘s live concert in Japan on May 31, KST. The post also provided a link to the ticket booking website, which provided a comprehensive list of cities where the screenings would take place.

j-hope Tour 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING Official Trailer

𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲!
📍 https://t.co/eJW3ku9BO3#jhope_TOUR_LIVEVIEWING #제이홉 #jhope #HOPE_ON_THE_STAGE_TOUR pic.twitter.com/onhg6J6iIH

— BTS_official (@bts_bighit) May 9, 2025

Initially, many fans noticed that the ticketing website didn’t list Israel among the countries where the concert would be available for live viewing in theaters. This was a welcome decision for many amid the ongoing cross-fandom campaign to push HYBE to abandon its ties to Zionism. 

As of now, there are no screening dates in Israel! Thank you, j-hope!
We hope that this is the beginning of positive change. #HYBEDivestFromZionism https://t.co/3n2MsQXVdq

— ARMY Against Zionism (@ARMYAgainstZ) May 9, 2025

NO ISRAHELL https://t.co/ZDJSrnlWMD pic.twitter.com/rNcMBjkE1y

— snoobi (@queerkivejin) May 9, 2025

Fans were encouraged by this initial discovery, considering it a progress after RM‘s documentary skipped Israel.

BTS RM’s Documentary Skips Israel In Global Screening Announcement

However, when some ARMYs decided to cross-check it through the website of Israel’s most popular cinema chain, they realized that the concert was also listed to be screened in Israel.

partys over yall https://t.co/9dOwsZUy09 pic.twitter.com/Omw2XWLf1w

— ☆ ⁷ (@minixkookie) May 9, 2025

False alarm. The movie seems to be screening there regardless of HYBE trying to hide it in the website to avoid backlash.
How pathetic. https://t.co/x9ThrOQ2Cr pic.twitter.com/g3Ha4Gv5c3

— ARMY Against Zionism (@ARMYAgainstZ) May 9, 2025

This discovery has ticked off a significant portion of the ARMY fanbase, with many calling this alleged attempt at hiding the listing worse than doing it up front.

this is worse than just blatantly listing it like what https://t.co/5H6RR1YsyH

— cherry (@sweetienamgi) May 9, 2025

so the criticism is hitting them but since they don't want to change their ways (cut ties) and piss off daddy, they're WITHHOLDING information from fans? not revealing song credits, hiding the settler colony from the initial list of venues, etc.@HYBEOFFICIALtwt you're complicit https://t.co/v5zRBmEuFt

— nana⁷🗡(check pinned!) (@lilyoongid2) May 9, 2025

actively choosing to hide it is CRAZY https://t.co/wWyS1Y5zJF

— 🎷⋅₊˚‧⁷ᴅᴜʜᵎᵎ (@badtznamu_) May 9, 2025

Many also pointed out that HYBE’s attempt to hide the screening in Israel only hinted that they were aware of the fan sentiment but chose deception over accountability.

the movie seems to be screening in itsnotreal but hybe is trying to hide it in the website to avoid backlash. just proves that they know what's going on pic.twitter.com/2Jb5ydCtyv

— star ⁷ 🇵🇸🍉 (@studioyoongi) May 9, 2025

hobi’s movie will be screened in the terr0rist settler-colony ‘israel’ while b0mbs are dropping in Palestine. HYBE is hiding it on the website and it means we’re being heard. USE THE TAGS PLEASE!

link website: https://t.co/PO8UY1olND#NoBTSInApartheid #HybeDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/GPQTjp9W08

— maro ᰔ🔻FREE PALESTINE (@admirerOx) May 9, 2025

HYBE IS TRYING TO HIDE THEIR EFFORTS TO ARTWASH GENOCIDE@HYBEOFFICIALtwt @hitmanb #HybeDivestFromZionism#하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 https://t.co/nb6hD1NnPv

— Sara🍉 (@Sara_tyyny) May 9, 2025

And finally, this move has strengthened the calls for HYBE to cut ties with Zionism, in line with the BDS movement among BTS fans with a pro-Palestinian stance.

You can read more about HYBE’s involvement with Zionism here:

HYBE Director Scooter Braun Accused Of Endorsing Killing Of Infants In Gaza In New Instagram Post

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