'Protect Your Idol First Before You Promote': Fans Criticize SM For Spa Winter Playlist Release Amid Alleged BTS Jungkook Dating Rumors


On Thursday, December 5, SM Entertainment posted on aespa's social media about Winter's selected Apple Music playlist. While fans were happy with the playlist, they also decried SM Entertainment's alleged negligence and lack of response regarding dating rumors between Winter and BTS's Jungkook.

Although these speculations have been circulating among netizens for months, recently, the amount of rumoursreports and alleged evidence have been flooding the internet. Fans believe that the South Korean media has been flooding baseless and loosely linked rumors to confirm the relationship between the two K-pop idols as a media stunt.

They speculated that the lot of articles is to cover the ongoing investigations of HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk's IPO fraud. Speculation gained more steam since the avalanche of articles took place on the same day prosecutors reported Bang Si-hyuk's frozen HYBE shares under provisional seizure.

Shortly after the same, both HYBE and SM Entertainment released statements to My Daily that they are both fact-checking to confirm or deny the rumors. However, given the unhealthy amount of hate trains towards K-pop idols and fan wars in recent days, fans demanded immediate action and a statement from both agencies.

Therefore, many were disappointed to see that SM Entertainment was promoting Asepa Winter with their recent Apple Music playlist instead of shielding her from the recent and harmful rumors. speculations. They also criticized and called out the agency for its lack of action regarding the speculations. Here are some fan reactions on the same:

“Protect your idol first before promoting,” said one fan:

Protect your idol first before promoting

More fans and netizens shared their reactions as SM Entertainment continued to promote the spa member amid BTS dating rumors. Jungkook.

@aespa_official @AppleMusic girl where is the statement

@aespa_official @AppleMusic the audacity to post this instead of protecting your artist… BIG F*CK YOU B*TCH

@aespa_official @AppleMusic We urge SM Entertainment to protect aespa Winter's rights and respond strongly through legal action. #SM_Protect_WINTER #SM_아티스트_에성구 @aespa_official @SMTOWNGLOBAL

@aespa_official @AppleMusic ARE YOU POSTING THIS TO US???? WTF ARE YOU DOING??? PROTECT THE WINTER

Others also shared their thoughts and opinions on the matter.

@aespa_official @AppleMusic don't be serious right now, there are bigger issues at hand than this playlist can wait!

this is not the post we expect and demand…

SM are you kidding me now???

If you think the rumors are unfounded and not even worth addressing, think about your artist facing malicious comments. PROTECT HER. DO SOMETHING.

The Complete Apple Music Playlist of aespa Winter, Winter Warmers

Here's the full list of songs as part of aespa Winter's recent Apple Music playlist:

  • BLUE for espa
  • I love to stay warm by Laufey & Dodie
  • Miss Hot July in Elmiene
  • Angel #48 for espa
  • Big Boss (Interlude) by Victoria Monét
  • Sweetness (feat. Leon Thomas) in Elmiene
  • The only exception by Paramore
  • On Such a Day for the WINTER
  • I love you, I'm sorry by Gracie Abrams
  • darlin' by Jean Dawson
  • valentine by Laufey
  • Mystery of Love (from “Call Me By Your Name”) by Sufjan Stevens
  • The Dress for Dijon
  • MAKE 4 LOVE by Snoh ​​Aalegra
  • Focus for HER
  • Baby Blue (with Norwill Simmonds) by Daniel César
  • because I liked a boy by Sabrina Carpenter
  • Hampstead by Ariana Grande
  • bring yourself from Novo Amor
  • hat by Chezile
  • Wants, not feelings for espa
  • it never crosses your mind for dark
  • Snow on the Beach (feat. Lana Del Rey) by Taylor Swift
  • i wish i hated you by Ariana Grande
  • Cinnamon Girl by Lana Del Rey Rey
  • A couple of minutes by Olivia Dean
  • set by Taylor Swift
  • The night we met by Lord Huron
  • Halley's comet by Billie Eilish
  • Evergreen (you didn't deserve me at all) by Omar Apollo
  • always by Daniel César
  • with you for the WINTER
  • self control by Frank Ocean
  • Falling (Side A – Acoustic) by Frank Ocean
  • Rather BE by GIVĒON
  • teach me to love by Galdive

Fans and netizens have been eagerly awaiting news and statements from both HYBE and SM Entertainment regarding the dating rumors between the two K-pop idols.