Stellar are reportedly "too tired" to continue, want their next Makestar to fail

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

응?? 오늘 쇼챔 엔딩때 애들이 뭔가 했네요 pic.twitter.com/DsL9klFXOU

— 아카이브 休 (@acaever) July 12, 2017

(video shows Stellar members signing "SOS" with their hands during a music show winner announcement stage)

Stellar fans have noticed some signs of distress from the group's members: a deleted tweet from Gayoung calling out the company for delaying their album's production, members crying at concerts and fanmeets, and an account from a fan who claims that the group wants their next Makestar project to fail.

On July 13, member Gayoung posted a message on her personal Twitter, saying, “It’s been three weeks since we’ve made a comeback so why do I have to keep worrying about the production of our album? I only want to focus on our performances…” Her fellow members Hyoeun and Minhee then responded with comments like, “I just feel numb now” and “Everyday is a battle.”

After deleting the post a few moments later, Gayoung tweeted an apology, saying, “Because I’m still lacking as a person, I expressed some personal feelings that evoked some misunderstandings. I’m sorry for causing confusion.” (via AsianJunkie)

Stellar: "People think that we earn a lot after ‘Marionette.’ They say we bought cars. In fact, we can’t even buy green tea. We have been struggling for the past seven years. [We don’t even hope to be rich] but we wish we could stop struggling. [...] We’re not even hoping for first place anymore. We maintained ourselves as a group and came this far. There are times when we don’t even realize it’s been seven years already. Our contracts are already almost up, and we need to look at the future. It would have been nice if we’d won first place, but we’ve thrown away as much of our greed as possible and we’re focusing on the fact that we’re working. (via Naver, Soompi)

Mini Ini:

@Everyone

Today Stellar returned to Korea, and I listened to some of their stories while they begged and cried. They said, if next time there is a Makestar project the girls wished the project goal will not be 100% or 1000%, but 0%. I hope international fans will help me and not contribute funds [to their future Makestar projects].

While Stellar were in Japan, during their performances the girls cried many times. They said they were too tired, and their hearts and minds were too tired too. Because they still have time left on their contracts and the contracts have not expired yet, the girls cannot resist [anything their company demands of them].

Instead of buying Stellar's albums to comfort yourself [Note: I think this was directed at something the Chinese fans were talking about in terms of buying albums], it would be better if you just went and bought the girls presents. Do not spend money on the fundraising [eg for Makestar or buying albums].

Also, the company secretly want to sign a contract with another company [for a TV show], which the girls discovered. That TV show is a porn(?)/erotic TV show. [The next sentence I couldn't understand, so I'll leave it here in Chinese: 特殊部位给隐藏后暴漏个个部位. I think it's saying something about the company not being truthful and upfront with the members].

This time with the albums it was the same. The company plans to drag the girls down until the end [I think this may be about the company having planned to make the girls do another erotic concept]. But the girls resisted so it passed. The way this album ended up as let the girls feel greatly assured. The girls also said this: The album stopped so soon [I think the production of the albums has stopped]. But this was also what the girls hoped for.

CEO Choi only always wants to use sexual and revealing concepts to use the girls to make money. So to everyone that reads these words that I have sent, I hope you will think about this. Thank you for your cooperation."

UPDATE: The fan's initial statement has been amended/retracted; see this post.

Sources: Twitter: @acaever, AsianJunkie, Soompi via Naver, K-Pop Amino: Shine Stellar

Comments

[lazmy.livejournal.com]

oh my god....the fact that they did SOS on live tv shows how serious their situation is bc they are showing they don't care about anything anymore.

don't they realize if their next project fails the company will just go back to their marionette image? they're really at a loss here and i'm very worried about them as a group but more importantly as people

[senshicalico.livejournal.com]

Maybe their contracts are up soonish enough that they're just trying to delay a comeback at all and leave the company :( So like if the makestar fails there won't even be time fora marionette type comeback from hell

[annayism.livejournal.com]

jfc this is disturbing

[krissasaur]

This makes me so sad because I love their music and also they always looked so miserable in their over sexualized concepts so who knows what they are mentally dealing with to begin with.

[petecarl.livejournal.com]

OMG. The industry really needs more protections for its artists. I love Stellar. I hope they'll somehow get out of this okay..

[mycorrhizoid.livejournal.com]

That sentence of untranslated Chinese sounds like it's describing the TV show concept as something to do with stripping. "Special areas [usually refers to areas of the body] would be hidden and then revealed one by one"

How much longer do they have on their contracts?? If they debuted in 2011, hopefully they're up next year?

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

That show sounds terrifying.

[turtles-tszx.livejournal.com]

Smh, just let them go. The ceo is acting like a pimp, i feel bad for the girls..

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

This is awful. Their last two concepts have been so good and they've worked so hard. But it's not worth anything if they're miserable. I can't believe we're at a point where fans are asking other fans not to support the group - that's how bad things are.

I hope that part about the erotic TV show isn't true.

[xxhna.livejournal.com]

the poor girls. I've never wanted a group to be free from a company as much as them. they don't deserve this. i can't imagine how stressed and unhappy they are =[

[senshicalico.livejournal.com]

I love them and their music so much. But god damnit. It's not worth it :( Ideal scenario is that they leave their company when the contracts are up and go start something new elsewhere together, but I'm going to guess that most of them will retire (and it will be well-deserved)

I knew they weren't making any money. But their company continuing to exploit them like that is so fucking foul. They're so incredibly talented and hardworking, but their disgusting CEO only sees them as sexual fodder. The part about them not focusing on a win and just wanting to work (but obviously not under their current conditions) is really getting to me.

[honey-baymax.livejournal.com]

This is so incredibly sad and anger inducing. Fuck their company :(

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

I had no idea; I thought Makestar was giving them some money at least; poor girls. One of the few times I agree with giving idols gifts.

The S.O.S on live tv is seriously scary.

Despite their contract, forcing them to film a porn show against their will is illegal af. Is there anything we could do about it?

I looked up some stuff and apparently there are some projects goimg on to directly support these girls instead of giving money to the company; even spreading it around would help if you can't or won't donate:

http://ideafan.co/2017/06/19/stellar-support-project-season-2/

[purpleglaceon]

I got chills from watching that video, it's not just one member but the whole group basically doing it, they must be in such distress omg...
Never in my life have I ever hoped for a group to "fail" or for people to not support them like this... for them to say such things, I can only imagine how bad their mental state must be from all of this...

[kiwijoy.livejournal.com]

poor girls :( i wonder how much time they have left on their contracts

[saemcrh.livejournal.com]

These poor girls :( I hope they're able to escape from their company, we know the industry is exploitative but from what I've read, their company is really something else tbh.

[accioanime.livejournal.com]

is there some sort of union for Kpop idols? Has no politician thought of creating some protective laws for them, similar to child labor laws or something? You hear about this stories all the time that it's become an industry norm but the "successful" idols who were able to free themselves had to go through so much litigation and expenses and time.

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

I doubt any politicians over there give enough shits to create something like this; it's something I only see an older idol creating once they are retired from the industry (I don't know why Heechul comes to mind).

[typhlogirl.livejournal.com]

Someone save these girls, what the fuck? This makes me feel sick

How is this legal???

[mayuyu.livejournal.com]

As a long time fan this is so distressing to read. Their songs and concepts have been amazing and the girls are always trying their best for their fans but their company is so shit. I really can't wait for them to get out of that hell hole.

[glider.livejournal.com]

it was always weird to me that after it came out that the members of this group are uncomfortable w/ the exploitative concepts their company puts them through, p. much all of I-fandom totally forgot about it and just goes "yas slay queens, support them no matter what, stop sleeping on them" etc. whenever I see them I'm reminded of that story and I had to wonder if they're happy doing what they do; now I'm 1000% unsurprised by this news. it's also super gross that their company continues to look for ways to exploit them. (yea you can argue that the nature of K-pop idols is exploitation but lbr, Stellar has had it the actual worst way/spoke out about it which I've never seen any other group/idol do)

I feel bad for people who genuinely like Stellar and it's a really sad outcome when fans are telling other fans "don't support them, let them fail so they're free." I wonder if they'll all choose to not renew their contracts whether their Makestars keep getting funded or not. it sounds like they don't earn enough to live comfortably.

[adenar.livejournal.com]

Same tbh. I felt so badly for them, there was no way I could give their company money after seeing all the things they've openly said about their discomfort with their image.

I hope they & their supporters are able to run enough interference so they can wait out the rest of their contracts in peace.

[rightclick5ave.livejournal.com]

read this on Twitter last night and felt so upset :( I really really really hope things work out for them somehow. sucks for the new girl as well :/

[donaldjdrumpf.livejournal.com]

I can't stand bosses who exploit their employees.

[roomgirl.livejournal.com]

I can't believe people are reacting to this like it's brand new information but maybe this is something that has to be learned from experience, IDK. I was a fan of a gg (J-pop) that was very similar, their concepts and treatment got worse and worse over time but I always felt like I was abandoning them or worsening their suffering if I didn't buy the stuff they put out because I'd been supporting them since debut. The truth is, playing on your sympathy and love for a group like this is the best business strategy a company could ask for. You think they need money for their situation to get better but all you're doing is enabling the people who exploited them in the first place. It's fucked up and makes me sad.

I hope they can finally get out, but now that there's a new member I'm worried that it may just continue with a new lineup or something, because for all the genuinely loving fans they have who will listen to the girls and retract their support, there are still people who get off on concepts like this.

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

+1000, half the time the strategy from the top seems to be to publicize how miserable the girls are with the concepts they're forced to do, so they can sell sex, innocence and sympathy all at once.

[xrossfaded.livejournal.com]

This is so disturbing to say the least. I hope they get the help they need after their contract expires.
They don't deserve to be put through this.

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Are people just now wising up to the fact that their company ain't shit? They've been creepy for literally years, since the panty shot controversy from rocket girl to pimping them out on facebook for Marionette promos. People scream about "sexual empowered queens Stellar!" without realising that these concepts aren't being created by the girls themselves.The concept for that Chinese show sound horrifying, someone save them

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

People scream about "sexual empowered queens Stellar!"

It's sad how it's near impossible to have a proper conversation about the exploitation female idols in Korea possibly face. (I say possibly because everyone's experience probably differes from person to person and company to company, although we can be certain there is alot of bad shit going on). You cannot question concepts that are blatantly sexualized without being told "Slut shamer!!!!!!! You slut shame!!!!!! Gtfo this is ALL female empowerment!!!".

I-fans have basically exported the Western problem where the sexuality of women in entertainment (or the commercial and public sphere) on the whole is downplayed as a sign of sexual liberation and emancipation when one can really, REALLY question that.

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

that's very sad ... i hope to hear news about their contracts ending soon

at this point you would think they should be making a demand for contract termination instead of calling for help on live tv but we never know what kind of contract they signed or what happens inside their agency :(

[yoonjeonghan.livejournal.com]

contract termination often costs a lot of money which I doubt they have

[10135.livejournal.com]

This is really horrible.