Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, has banned a fan club of renowned South Korean K-pop band BTS from publishing for 60 days, claiming that it obtained funds unlawfully. This came just days after photos of such a fan group’s custom-built plane were uploaded online.
BTS member Jimin was indeed the focus of the fan club account, which now has over 1.1 million followers on Weibo. The account’s limitations come as part of China’s drive to tidy up the entertainment sector and start cracking down on “irrational behaviour” by followers.
Xi Jinping, China’s president, has called for a “national rejuvenation” that includes stronger Communist Party control over industry, education, culture, and religion.
Since then, the party has limited children’s access to internet gaming and is attempting to prevent what it regards as unhealthy celebrity worship. Last week, the government outlawed effeminate guys on television, as well as idol development shows, for having “poor moral principles” that may harm children.
After photographs of a modified Jeju Air airliner featuring images of Jimin surfaced online last week, the BTS fan account was barred from posting on Weibo.
The club’s preparations to commemorate his 26th birthday in October included the personalised jet.
The act received a lot of backlashes online because of its over-the-top nature. In response to the reaction, the account posted a message on its feed last week advising followers to be “sensible” while pursuing celebrities in order to maintain a “harmonious and healthy internet environment.”
The organisation has been barred from posting on Weibo for 60 days after it was discovered to just have gathered cash illegally, according to a statement released on Sunday.
According to the statement, “Weibo firmly condemns such foolish star-chasing conduct and will deal with it seriously.”
As per China’s state-owned media, the fan club began gathering funds in April to prepare for the birthday festivities, garnering over a million yuan ($150,000) during the first three minutes and 2.3 million yuan ($360,000) during the first hour.
The club also intended to place adverts in newspapers such as The New York Times commemorating Jimin’s birthday.
It is also commonplace for K-pop fans throughout the world to announce their favourite celebrities’ birthdays in newspapers as well as billboards or to decorate public transportation vehicles with photos of their idols.
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