SM Entertainment Called Out For “Hypocrisy” As RIIZE Is Announced To Perform At “Rolling Loud”

Recently, Rolling Loud, the largest hip-hop festival worldwide, announced that RIIZE will perform at the festival in Thailand in November.

SEE YOU IN THAILAND @RIIZE_official 🔥

👉 https://t.co/63ISxsbtZu pic.twitter.com/SGthJqrBie

— Rolling Loud (@RollingLoud) October 22, 2024

The news came as a shock to K-Pop fans; as of all SM Entertainment groups, RIIZE is not the one they would have associated with being hip-hop. They’re more pop, while NCT has a lot of hip-hop and rap, which the Rolling Loud audience would be expecting.

riize at rolling loud
pic.twitter.com/lARlc5qDRP

— . (@shinchan0409_) October 23, 2024

sm sending riize to rolling loud frl frying me bc 😭😭 out of all the hiphop adjacent groups, riize was booked? pic.twitter.com/M49KC1iv1e

— kenn!! ✮ (@k3nad1) October 23, 2024

riize at rolling loud makes absolutely no sense. and honestly this is just ridicule waiting to happen because there has NEVER been a kpop group to perform at a RAP festival. SM you are so evil 😭😭

— ْ (@jiwoongnation) October 22, 2024

Many fans couldn’t help but be concerned about how hip-hop fans might react to RIIZE’s performance.

so streets are saying riize is performing at rolling loud with a crowd of mainly rap fans,,, pic.twitter.com/SI8SngMiDG

— naeya luvs ㅎㅅㅎ (@aejikunn) October 22, 2024

sm sending riize to perform at rolling loud thailand …. performing in front of all rap fans ….. aurkay ….. pic.twitter.com/svlgs21SHD

— adri ✮ rii7e (@shozees_) October 22, 2024

riize at rolling loud pic.twitter.com/ebzqF2jmTQ

— jen (@hiwonbn) October 22, 2024

riize performing at ROLLING LOUD?? A HIPHOP FESTIVAL… TF THEY GONNA PERFORM THERE?? LOVE 119?!??? oh hunny SM HATES riize
pic.twitter.com/WQID5JdQla

— ash (@yeppiash) October 22, 2024

The headliners include A$AP ROCKY, Lil Wayne, and Playboi Carti. The other technically K-Pop artists included are Jay Park, CL, and GOT7‘s BamBam. These three have discographies in the genre.

Yet, some netizens were alarmed by some RIIZE fans’ reactions to the news. Many were concerned about the tweets shared being rooted in anti-Black stereotypes.

Going Rolling Loud wouldn’t ruin RIIZE reputation yall are just anti black me thinks. There seems to be an air of disgust towards rap and hip hop artists coming from non black fans when it’s likely that RIIZE themselves are fans of artist in that very lineup like…

— Ellie (@filthydinosaurs) October 23, 2024

I get that we’re all a bit worried about riize attending rolling loud, but, some of the qrts are not it, especially those relying on stereotypes, i’m confident that they’ll be fine, it’s just a weird choice from sm ent imo.. like the timing is horrible.. given the situation..

— elisabeth7️⃣🫧 (@wonsunsunn) October 23, 2024

lot of yalls reaction to riize being sent to rolling loud is borderline racist but honestly who's shocked! pic.twitter.com/x6QdzxDt8K

— ʚ♡ɞ (@sinbadism) October 23, 2024

One of the most common criticisms about RIIZE’s participation in Rolling Loud is that some fans feel SM Entertainment is being hypocritical. Recently, Seunghan‘s departure from RIIZE was announced. This decision was made within 48 hours after it was announced he would return after a 10-month hiatus. Many international fans have been left confused and heartbroken as a result. Seunghan’s departure from the group appeared to be a result of SM Entertainment giving in to bullying from some Korean fans who protested his return, sending funeral wreaths to the company, as they were angry about his pre-debut lifestyle, as it had been revealed he had a girlfriend and smoked.

The music festival is associated with cannabis (marijuana). Earlier this year, Rolling Loud actually partnered with the cannabis company STIIIZY to design products as well as give away tickets. Marijuana is known to be heavily illegal in South Korea, RIIZE’s participation in any Rolling Loud festival is an odd choice. While RIIZE will be performing in Thailand, Frost is the official cannabis partner of Rolling Loud Thailand.

Considering one of the main reasons Seunghan was punished was due to smoking a cigarette, many fans feel it’s ironic RIIZE is performing at the festival. They called out SM Entertainment’s alleged hypocrisy.

Sending RIIZE to ROLLING LOUD. A festival based off of SMOKING WEED. While having just kicked out a member for holding a CIGARETTE between his lips pre debut. I have to laugh. #BringBackSeunghan #RII7E_Or_NONE #SMSuppportsBullying #승한의_복귀_번복을_번복하라

— RIIZE IS 7 (@taeyongsvape) October 22, 2024

sm is doing everything in their power to make riize a global group sending them to rolling loud with rap artists in the lineup but kick a member from their group who had a gf and smoked the fucking irony#UnfairExit_Seunghan #UnitedforSeunghan#BringBackRII7E…

— ᡣ𐭩𝒾̸ᡣ𐭩𝒾̸ (@binsaxy) October 22, 2024

did sm really kick out seunghan for smoking a cigarette and are now sending riize to rolling loud 💀 pic.twitter.com/V3K0m786nw

— heather ♡︎ yunho (@yunhostineee) October 23, 2024

 

RIIZE being sent to Rolling Loud with how illegal 🍃 is in Korea is actually SO INSANE

Who is making these decisions at SM? Did they catch the brain worm from RFK or something???

— Mel Targaryen (@MelTarg) October 23, 2024

International fans are also continuing to boycott. Read more below.

Methods Of “Boycotting” SM Entertainment Following Seunghan’s Departure From RIIZE Spark Major Criticism