Fans Protest In Front Of HYBE America Demanding The Removal Of Scooter Braun
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In the wake of the ongoing onslaught on civilian lives in Gaza, Palestine, at the hands of Israel, multiple communities have mobilized to voice their dissent, and the K-Pop community is no exception. Fans of HYBE artists have been vocal about their opposition to Scooter Braun’s presence in the company for months now. But on March 23, KST, they held a physical protest in front of the HYBE America office for the first time.
Bang Si Hyuk (left) and Scooter Braun | @scooterbraun/Instagram The online movement asking “#HYBEDivestFromZionism” has been spearheaded by Palestinian fans (namely @ARMY4Palestine on X), who, apart from speaking up against Scooter Braun’s keen involvement with the Israeli government, have also organized multiple donation drives to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza with the support of their allies.
Reminder to donate to The Pious Projects for feminine hygiene kits distribution in Gaza! Women in Gaza often have to resort to cutting off corners of tents to use as pads and women who have just given birth are going through weeks of postpartum bleeding. Please don’t forget them. https://t.co/LMn1HNMrH7 pic.twitter.com/OlKAYQvK5H
— ARMY for Palestine (@ARMY4Palestine) January 20, 2024
ARMY!
our Care For Gaza donation drive and giveaway is now open!
Even if you don't wish to participate in the giveaway, please do participate in the donation drive!
Donate to Care For Gaza here: https://t.co/mhFzuRc5Qt pic.twitter.com/fJCf70z3wj
— ARMY for Palestine (@ARMY4Palestine) February 18, 2024
The concert starts now!!!! Please donate through the link in the tweet below
while vibing out to your favorite BTS songs sang by @Grassuke !!! Let’s reach our goal of
$ 5000 for the PCRF, ARMY!Streaming link: https://t.co/xpxNRwgV0e https://t.co/SJqv2UZs6y
— ARMY for Palestine (@ARMY4Palestine) February 17, 2024
In the past few months, this group of fans has tried to reach out to HYBE and its chairperson, Bang Si Hyuk, through trending hashtags, petitioning, and even by sending a protest truck to the HYBE Seoul headquarters. Despite intense pushback from their own fandoms, they have called for a boycott of HYBE merch and products until their demands are met.
| @btsprodsuga/Twitter This collective action project, dubbed “Boot The Scoot,” finally amounted to a physical protest on March 23 at the HYBE America office, where Scooter Braun serves as the CEO. Fans showed up at the place with banners and marched for hours, chanting slogans demanding HYBE divest from Zionism as multiple vehicles honked by in solidarity. This demonstration was largely led by the Palestinian Youth Movement, an organization of young Palestinians who have been leading pro-Palestinian protests all over the US.
we’ll be standing next to you ! #BootTheScoot#하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 #HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/0KcDgR636U
— lyn⁷ (@otroatardecerx) March 23, 2024
if there’s a next one, i encourage other fandoms to show up as well!
pic.twitter.com/TovfysGRZJ
— na ⁷ (@nawithluuv) March 23, 2024
— na ⁷ (@nawithluuv) March 22, 2024
SCOOTER SCOOTER YOU CANT HIDE
WE CHARGE YOU WITH GENOCIDE#bootthescoot #HybeDivestFromZionism
[clips from ig live] pic.twitter.com/zUlIFw1CrD— miki⁷
my god this is so powerful I feel so !!!!!!!!!!!! SCOOTER ARE YOU SEEING THIS FUCKERRRRRRERR#BootTheScoot#HybeDivestFromZionismpic.twitter.com/2Zo1ap4jYi
— flower⁷ (@tulipstfu) March 22, 2024
ARMYs present in the crowd also sang BTS‘s “Spring Day” in honor of the innocent lives lost in Gaza.
TEARSSSS
THEYRE SINGING SPRING DAY#하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 #BootTheScoot pic.twitter.com/SFpI0t82iM
— sara⁷ (@mangokoos) March 22, 2024
According to the protestors on site, an individual named Nasim, whom Braun had previously introduced as his Palestinian-American friend when the backlash against his support for Zionism started picking up pace was also seen at the protest, allegedly trying to dissuade participants. He also allegedly tried to make a case about Braun’s “donations” to Gaza behind the scenes, a claim that has been met with much skepticism.
SCOOTER’S PALESTINIAN FRIEND IS HERE TRYING TO STOP US HAHAHAHAHAHAHAVAHAHA
— na ⁷ (@nawithluuv) March 22, 2024
hes saying that behind the scenes scooter is donating to gaza
— odd skye circle (@94peach) March 22, 2024
saying that scooter has been donating to gaza “behind the scenes” when he has been publicly aligning himself with fascist organisations while also routinely spreading misinformation that vilifies palestinians is genuinely insane #HybeDivestFromZionism https://t.co/4V7DJVva0I
— ayesha (@whooperjin) March 22, 2024
1. when ur zionism is so ridiculously loud, ur "support" for palestine cant be so silent.
2. why should we believe him? which org is he donating to?
3. why bring this up now, in retaliation to the protest? couldnt find time to share this amidst the propaganda posts? https://t.co/9pNKdhgVVC— a⁷
(@stillwithjin) March 23, 2024
While the group was protesting at the location, the allied fans who couldn’t make it physically to the protest took it upon themselves to flood X (formerly Twitter) with evidence of Braun’s deep involvement with the current government of Israel and his apparent role as its mouthpiece, even at the expense of the artists under him. Citing these instances, those fans put forth their disapproval of Braun being closely associated with HYBE artists.
scooter braun actively hires and works with people who also are zionists themselves. allison kaye is posting about HYBE artists in between her propaganda podcasts. @hitmanb this isn’t a personal belief. wake up and take action!#하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 #BootTheScoot pic.twitter.com/8x9mAiT8BY
— Haaaaaari⁷
Scooter Braun attempted to mend his image by setting up a charity, but no amount of money can excuse the blood he has on his hands from shaking it with the devil himself.#하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라#BootTheScoot pic.twitter.com/XPR0YgcCJy
— nisee is a 빛⁷✿ ARTISTS FOR PALESTINE (@smol_bbybean) March 22, 2024
scooter braun has been publicly sharing statements from sources that have been debunked many times.
he never apologized or acknowledged them after they’ve been proved untrustworthy, uncaring of the harm these disinformations would cause#BootTheScoot #HYBEDivestFromZionism https://t.co/XZWPeTojDz pic.twitter.com/1a7lx2J6Xo
— louz⁷⁼¹
³ᴰ(ꪜ)
????
(@nagwon42195) March 22, 2024
propaganda has always been a key role in genocide and scooter braun is whitewashing war crimes.
we love our artists & we don't want them to work with people who are actively supporting occupation and apartheid. #HYBEDivestFromZionism #BoottheScootpic.twitter.com/LSEo09IinQ pic.twitter.com/ORbVhynCMj— findingyoongiinthesky⁷
Scooter Braun is not a good person.
This all happened when he was Demi’s manager. He manipulates to push his narratives. These are NOT personal opinions.This is the guy currently being associated with you and your (our) artists! #하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 #BootTheScoot https://t.co/8ywWvhtoQ9 pic.twitter.com/zO7IaAsrsX
— (ia) comfy⁷
trending tags and live tweeting we know how to do this
#하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 #BootTheScoot https://t.co/uwaJtjS3IK
— ✶cece⁷ (@btxtbabe) March 22, 2024
It’s happening! Keep going everyone!!
HYBE REMOVE SCOOTER BRAUN #하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라#BootTheScoot pic.twitter.com/yRNZpg83WH
— nora⁷
WE ARE TRENDING! KEEP IT GOING! #HYBEDivestFromZionism #BootTheScoot pic.twitter.com/0AmisFTzZb
— CARAT FOR PALESTINE
(@CARAT4PALESTINE) March 22, 2024
So far, the company has not responded to the protest, though many participants claim that HYBE American employees were at the building’s windows, watching the demonstration. While the protest was still ongoing, Braun was also seen posting links to a charity organization in his Instagram story. However, the credibility of this very organization, particularly in its role in aiding people in Gaza, has been questioned.
…..UNRWA EXISTS??? PCRF EXISTS??? CARE FOR GAZA??? scooter braun us so unserious man https://t.co/SynPHUAEhd
— kayu | 2025⁷ (@cutiecowprint7) March 15, 2024
Later, he posted a collection of pictures on his feed, including one with Bang Si Hyuk, with the caption, “Epic Fridays.” However, after some fans started mentioning the protest under the post, he limited the comments.
someone had commented on scooter's post something like "did you see the protest being held against you? i think that's pretty epic too" and he deleted it KDHSKSJ #하이브는시오니스트를퇴출하라 #BootTheScoot
— lua⁷ (@bomnalsuga) March 22, 2024
why delete this comment if you care about both sides? pic.twitter.com/zJcGa6QgOg
— june⁷ | ia
(@june_minyoongi) March 22, 2024
While the protest has been hailed as a massive success by fans online, they have also expressed their intention to continue speaking up until their demands of divestment are met. Whether HYBE reiterates its previous statement, risking another public backlash, or takes the other route this time remains to be seen.
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