Whitewashing is an issue commonly seen in K-Pop where idols are made to look paler than they are. Recently, ARMYs have hit back at HYBE for whitewashing the members of BTS.
In particular, while whitewashing is predominant in the K-Pop industry, ARMYs have always loved sharing the natural pictures of the BTS members without editing and embracing their natural skin tones.
While BTS has always promoted the idea of loving yourself, it seems like BIGHIT might not have got the memo as they’ve come under fire for whitewashing the members ahead of the group’s book release.
BTS is set to release a book to celebrate their tenth anniversary, and it’s not surprising that the group’s social media account has been promoting the book in any way possible.
‘BEYOND THE STORY : 10-YEAR RECORD OF BTS’
Original Edition
Release Date: 23. 7. 9. 7:09AM (KST)
Official Website: https://t.co/RXFbwlQicj #BEYOND_THE_STORY #BTS #방탄소년단 pic.twitter.com/5s5ws9fXdT— BTS_official (@bts_bighit) June 20, 2023
Of course, although many fans couldn’t hide their excitement about the book, but some were not as happy with the cover. In particular, many ARMYs slammed the obvious whitewashing of the members on the cover.
Is it so hard to not edit their skin tones…? :/ https://t.co/DsFV1Ij6ia pic.twitter.com/YDZwVkkday
— meru⁷ (@meruroo_) June 21, 2023
STOP WHITEWASHING THEMpic.twitter.com/PCKRWYhL18 https://t.co/Gqgk7SquqD
— jungkook thinker (@wayjks) June 20, 2023
why my tannies the same color as the white background
blending in to the background is crazy bighit https://t.co/hfaA2QVAJd
— keke⁷ (@stallseok) June 20, 2023
Some fans even took matters into their own hands and showed what the company had missed out on after editing the photo to showcase the members’ natural skin tones.
we could’ve had this guys…. https://t.co/i1sUAqEHNH pic.twitter.com/LGBKatmskn
— flower⁷ (@tulipstfu) June 21, 2023
never forget what #THEY are taking away from us, tried to edit the original and literally took 30 seconds, we’re constantly being robbed of seeing their natural skin tones, what is this obsession to have them look like milk cartons, im tired https://t.co/sorVRGbCFS pic.twitter.com/ODxMiRf3jE
— adri⁷ (@SUG4DRI) June 22, 2023
One netizen pointed out that the photos used of the members were actually from 2020…
am i tripping or these photos are actually from 2020 https://t.co/Pq04xB8vKM
— tay (tae)⁷ (@kimgayism) June 20, 2023
And another fan shared the photos she believed might have been taken around the same time. In particular, in the OG photos, all the members showcase their natural skin without any harsh editing.
Considering how beautiful idols are without all the editing and how much BTS promote loving yourself, ARMYs were disappointed to see the whitewashing on the cover of a book that is meant to tell the story of the group.