HYBE Receives Intense Backlash Over Its Upcoming Release

HYBE is yet again in hot waters with fans, this time over its upcoming merch release.

On April 18, the company revealed its new BTS merch line, titled “Monochrome.”

BTS Monochrome Merch.
Concept Film

📦BTS POP-UP : MONOCHROME
2024. 04. 26 – 2024. 05. 12
서울 성동구 성수일로4길 12, AP AGAIN

📦Weverse Shop
Coming Soon#BTS #방탄소년단#MONOCHROME #MNCR pic.twitter.com/9AwR8foqW0

— HYBE MERCH (@HYBE_MERCH) April 18, 2024

The collection includes miscellaneous objects in the monochrome color scheme, including a black crate, a silver lock, a water bottle, a shipping label…

A candle, some sort of cream, a tote bag, a pouch…

A t-shirt, a couple-ring set, a dog-tag style necklaces, and a crew neck shirt.

These merch pieces will be sold at a BTS pop-up store in Seoul from April 26 to May 12 and are also set to be sold on Weverse Shop.

While the build-up to this release was intense, given it was being promoted as an upcoming BTS release by the label, many fans were left disappointed by the actual content. The majority of the backlash came from the fans’ dissatisfaction with the designs, which many criticized as uninspired and lacking creativity.

beyond the merch boycott, i am so tired of how boring and uninspired hybe’s merch drops have been recently. writing mere words on a background does not make for merch fans enjoy and yet they’ve done this again and again and again https://t.co/dekyhNAyfC

— bangtan loving hours open 24/7 (@battletears2) April 18, 2024

We need the tannies back soon I’m so serious hybe executives don’t have a single creative bone in their bodies https://t.co/ZGetcFyj3Z pic.twitter.com/tGUOrV0mAk

— Bloomi!⁷ is drawing bts everyday!!! •᷄ɞ•᷅ (@bluwebloom) April 18, 2024

have you noticed, the only time the merch was good, was when the tannies designed their own ones💀 https://t.co/pDWxbybpAf

— Tan⁷🍉 (@yo0nterlude_) April 18, 2024

aside from the merch made by the tannies themselves, it's jarring to see that the products hasn't been as fun and creative since 2019 "house of bts" https://t.co/e5tmB2k4ze

— military wife sab⁷.☁️ (@from_vante) April 18, 2024

The other point of contention was that the products being marketed using BTS’s brand name lacked any visible connection to the members or their music. Many were left questioning if this was a quick cash-grabbing tactic on the label’s part, given the considerably high prices of each of these goods.

bighit has lost the plot like what even is the point of this merch. at least the other pop-ups were related to the music and artists. these are just letters on tchotchkes https://t.co/CepXFo6pc8

— 🐝⁷ (@goyeopstan) April 18, 2024

and this is why you're better off supporting fan made stuff. this is boring af and not even a tannie in sight like ?????? it doesn't spark borajoy https://t.co/yEpx61mMmN

— mj 🥑⁷ (@enbyjjin) April 18, 2024

i’m sorry if i see anyone buying this shit im never taking them seriously ever again OOMFS ARE DOINF BETTER ONES FOR HALF THE PRICE AND CUTER TOO PROBABLY https://t.co/8zbL1r5ict

— comms open | wojtek⁷ (saw sexy nukim live) 땡 (@mynamewasyou) April 18, 2024

even if minimalist/lowkey stan merch were my style (they aren’t), “monochrome” and “mncr” mean absolutely nothing to me as an army at this point in time. they could’ve at least slapped tannie initials on there in their lil sans serif font before calling it a day idk https://t.co/h2RrYoIiJK

— patty 🍙ིྀ ⁷ (@jinggukpd) April 18, 2024

all that fuss for this stale ass merch oh this should be the easiest pass of yalls lives KWNDMMDMSMS https://t.co/UgAa4OSicF

— k⁷ (@koosjunie) April 18, 2024

There are, however, some theories floating around about the possibility of “Monochrome” being related to future musical projects of BTS.

this + the ‘merch’ feels like a brand launch 😭 i wonder if monochrome will be a significant word in future bts projects so it develops emotional meaning or if it’s just for this pop-up https://t.co/ZJtqZBQut3

— army film club (@0613frames) April 18, 2024

This merch drop is one of the many reasons why HYBE has upset its steady fanbase in recent months. You can read more about fans’ ongoing boycott of the label here.