“Clear Sabotage” — Stray Kids Fans Demand Answers After A U.S. Fan Tries To Buy A “MAXIDENT” Album
On November 17, JYP Entertainment announced that Stray Kids had officially reached three million sales with their seventh EP, titled MAXIDENT.
MAXIDENT, released on October 7, is the first Stray Kids album to accomplish this impressive feat.
While fans were incredibly proud of the hard-working and talented group, many voiced their concerns with JYP Entertainment and Republic Records‘ promotions. Specifically, fans were confused about why such an in-demand album wouldn’t be restocked in US stores and was, instead, “completely unlisted.”
Although fans were already calling out JYP Entertainment and Republic Records for not properly supporting the group, their frustration was heightened by a picture showing a full box of MAXIDENT albums in the back of a US store.
The Twitter user who posted the picture explained that when they asked a Target employee to “check the back” since MAXIDENT wasn’t on the shelves, the employee returned “with an unopened box [of] literally 30 MAXIDENT albums in it.”
so my local target didn’t have any on the shelves but i asked an employee if he could check the back and i gave him the dpci#. he came back with an unopened box and there were literally 30 maxident albums in it. safe to say we were both confused 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
— 하늘 ◡̈ sky☁️SKZ-REPLAY📼 (@laviecestskz) December 26, 2022
Fans understandably suspect that these unopened boxes are not only an issue at the one user’s local Target store.
+i took this picture last week so this is very recent. i’m sure there are more targets nationwide that have boxes of unopened, unlisted maxident albums just collecting dust🙃
— 하늘 ◡̈ sky☁️SKZ-REPLAY📼 (@laviecestskz) December 26, 2022
Fans argue that stores having the boxes of albums but not allowing them to be sold is a form of “clear sabotage” and are demanding JYP Entertainment take action.
Stores have stray kids albums boxed and unlabeled in the back of their stores, this is clear sabotage, stores are not out of stock they refuse to put them on the shelves@RepublicRecords@jypnation#RestockStrayKidsalbums #RepublicRecordsrespectskz pic.twitter.com/I9lOPosmZ5
— pixi ⭑ & 🌧 (@SEUNGlNNIE) December 26, 2022
WE DESERVE AN EXPLANATION
TREAT ALL YOUR ARTISTS RESPECTFULLY
Why are there boxes full of Maxident albums on stores while being unlisted for selling!!!!?????@RepublicRecords@jypnation#RestockStrayKidsalbums #RepublicRecordsrespectskz pic.twitter.com/uPapWc81f4
— M🐺'Connected'🖤𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 (@Chanvlicious) December 26, 2022
Although fans feel especially proud that Stray Kids were able to reach a milestone in their sales despite these circumstances…
Stray kids becoming triple million sellers with maxident while being sabotaged and bad mouthed by ada big companies shows how capable both skz and stay are. They're threatened 4 sure@RepublicRecords @jypnation @stay_support #RestockStrayKidsalbums #RepublicRecordsrespectskz
— SKZblackNoona (@Henrietha_R) December 27, 2022
Fans still demand action, trending multiple hashtags on Twitter, including #Restock Stray Kids Albums and #Republic Records Respect Stray Kids.
Keep trending
Stores have stray kids albums boxed and unlabeled in the back of their stores, this is clear sabotage, stores are not out of stock they refuse to put them on the shelves@RepublicRecords@jypnation#RestockStrayKidsalbums #RepublicRecordsrespectskz pic.twitter.com/QKgJX5xmXW
— ndajd✨⁸ (@ndajd_CB97) December 27, 2022
Stays mass trending⚠️⚠️
Stores have stray kids albums boxed and unlabeled in the back of their stores, this is clear sabotage, stores are not out of stock they refuse to put them on the shelves@RepublicRecords@jypnation#RestockStrayKidsalbums #RepublicRecordsrespectskz pic.twitter.com/c0CzIdwydR— 🍓Miko🎄im sinking in the deep end•waiting skzflix (@My8kzkings) December 26, 2022
As of now, there are no updates from JYP Entertainment or Republic Records. You can read more here.
Stray Kids And ITZY Join Republic Records… Why Some Fans Are Skeptical
