On September 5, 2024, fans of BTS’ Taehyung took to X to express their anger towards HYBE, using hashtags like “HYBE TREAT TAEHYUNG EQUALLY” and “HYBE RESPECT TAEHYUNG.” The outrage erupted after the label allegedly claimed copyright over the idol’s solo fancam of the song Pied Piper, taken from the “To MY DARLING V” event.
The fancam, which had amassed 17 million views, was removed, and the popular “mumu_tae” channel was terminated for the same reason. What fueled fans’ frustration further was that fancams of other BTS members from the same performance remained accessible.
The hashtags quickly gained traction, with over 65,000 posts calling for equal treatment for the idol. ARMYs united to demand that HYBE treat the Singularity singer fairly, pointing out that he is as much a part of BTS as the other members. A user on X, @sseratanck wrote,
“deleting my man pied Piper fancam will nvr change that it was legendary where he was gagging up everyone by his smooth dance expression his singing he was hot a GOD OF BEAUTY. KING OF FANCAMS. HYBE TREAT TAEHYUNG EQUALLY.”
“hybe is genuinely ruining everything,” a fan wrote.
“After all the sabotage , deleting sales , they now resort to deleting tae’s fancams But deleting fancams is not gonna erase Taehyung’s impact or his popularity . Only shows how evil that co. is,” another user remarked.
“WTF NOOO THOSE FANCAMS,” another person commented.
The unequal treatment sparked further criticism, with fans calling on HYBE to reconsider its actions.
“Why only Taehyung? What are they gonna do next, bring down Yeontan’s fancam??,” a fan commented.
“Their problem is tæ cause if it was about copyrighting shiii they’d be deleting every single video out there not only the ones pertaining to one member,” a user mentioned.
“I dont know what to say,” a fan wrote.
More about Taehyung’s fancam of Pied Piper on BTS’s 5th Muster: Magic Shop
The fancam showed V performing “Pied Piper” from BTS’s 2017 album Love Yourself: Her during their 5th Muster: Magic Shop in 2019, celebrating their sixth anniversary. His stage presence, dance moves, and expressive performance impressed fans. On the first day, he wore black skinny jeans and a constellation-themed silk shirt, and on the second day, he wore a sleek black shirt, adding to the visual impact.
Meanwhile, this isn’t the first time fans have criticized HYBE for its treatment of V. Previously, they had voiced their concerns when the Love Me Again singer released his solo debut album Layover ahead of his military enlistment. Many fans felt the label did not provide adequate promotion for his solo project, sparking frustration among ARMYs who believed V deserved better support for his solo endeavours.
For those unfamiliar, fancams are focused videos that showcase individual members during group performances, highlighting their singing and dancing.
Edited by Divya Singh
