Comments | news_jpop: Yamapi for thought.

gat_x303 in news_jpop

Yamapi for thought.

Oct 22, 2006 00:24

I remember reading something Yamapi once said that left a big impression on me. It was either in a magazine or interview... you can consider this a rumor until I locate the actual source and can confirm this as fact.

He wondered if his fans would remain his fans if he was to become disfigured in an accident or become ugly.

( details inside )

news: discussion

Comments 42

hoyah October 22 2006, 07:59:15 UTC

That's something interesting to think about. I'm reminded of a recent incident involving DBSK's U Know YunHo. An anti-fan put glue along the rim of a bottle of juice and gave it to him; he could have ingested the glue and suffered serious consequences, but luckily spit it out before that could happen. After the event, he wrote in his on-line diary that this was an incident he didn't want to remember and hoped to move on from. He also asked that people not "hate" him or the rest of DBSK, promising to put up a better appearance. It's sad how much appearance (not only physically, but in mannerisms and attitude) impact the way celebrities are perceived and how fans continue to treat them.

gat_x303 October 22 2006, 12:22:54 UTC

It's also worse in a culture like Japan where the audience is placed on a higher rank than the performers. Fans can do no wrong, but the artists have to apologize for every little mishaps.

traxdoki October 23 2006, 04:53:12 UTC

I don't think it's just in Japan. It's the same elswheres. It is considered the fault of the performers if their fans and audiences are unruly. Somehow, performers are expected to be able to control their fans. DBSK has made numerous public apologies for the behavior of their fans, and has made pleas to their fans to behave better etc.

gat_x303 October 24 2006, 03:15:28 UTC

I know the same happens in countries outside Japan. What I was trying to say is that Japan does it on a much more extreme level.

For example, a Hollywood actor can insult the media, other actors, or even the directors of his/her films and still have a place in the entertainment business. But if a Japanese artist was to insult the media, it's like signing a suicide note to his/her career.

Thread 6

budiamond October 22 2006, 08:31:50 UTC

Yeah. Yamapi's great because he's Yamapi. I mean, there could be debate about loving idols for their image only, and then maybe about their personalities perhaps being 'images' that they put on, so even if we do like them for their personalities, maybe we still only like them because of what we see. But I guess we can't grow to like them as a person any other way.
I couldn't continue to like Yamapi if I didn't find the person I saw attractive on the inside.
It's gotten to a point for me too where it's what I see of his personality that matters, more than his looks. Sexy photoshoots are great too, but two sexy photoshoots can't make me feel as happy as a cute heart-felt web-entry he may write.

budiamond October 22 2006, 08:33:39 UTC

Actually, the more I think about this, the sadder it seems.
It must be so lonely for him to have to wonder if so many people who claim to love him would leave in an instant if his outward appearance changed unsatisfactorily.

matyaa October 22 2006, 08:45:03 UTC

On the other hand, being in such a situation allows you to make some choices and to think about the friendships you create around you...
Even when you're not a pretty star, when you live an interesting life, when you move a lot and meet a lot of people, it's something you can think about : "who are my friends... ? what is really important ? does this guy really know me or is it just a façade ?"
It's a disadvantage but there are a lot of funny things too so...

budiamond October 22 2006, 10:12:25 UTC

There are~~ Which is good. There's a lot of good things in most things. Because when I think about it, like "How would Yamapi feel?" it doesn't seem he'd be too upset if some fangirls stop liking him. But then I wonder how I'd feel, and I know I'd definitely be sad, even though it'd be obvious they'd only been after the looks from the beginning.
I guess that's a problem most of us have. When people are famous, they seem kind of untouchable and we can forget really easily that most of them are just like everyone underneath.
I guess though that the best thing we can do for Pi is support him (and all the others) until they disappear from the public eye~~ Even if they do get ugly. :D

kayen October 22 2006, 08:32:35 UTC

Brilliant post! :D

kayen October 22 2006, 18:58:32 UTC

And now I've thought about it a bit more and read all the comments (well, nearly). And I would like to add the following ( ... )

traxdoki October 23 2006, 04:58:14 UTC

.___. Labeling certain behaviors as 'gay' is so sketchy. IMO. So is the concept of gaydar.

kayen October 23 2006, 07:28:12 UTC

A lot of things in life are sketchy. Dealing only in (percieved) absolutes is dangerous.

Thread 8

matyaa October 22 2006, 08:41:20 UTC

To be honest (sorry i'll talk about myself), the first time that my friends, who went in Japan, came back with a lot of stuffs about News (it was the success at that time ;)), i didn't find Yamapi attractive at first. The truth is that ididn't find anyone atractive. So i began to listen to the music (i found it funny). After that, we all choose a boy that we wanted to support, and as i saw some DVDs, i liked Yamapi's attitude, and i choose him, but if of course i didn't find him ugly at all, i didn't find him really pretty either ( ... )

tennis_chan October 22 2006, 08:45:05 UTC

I love this post.

Even if Yamapi shaved his head, even if he stopped being a star, even if he became ugly, he'll still be the cute, loveable yamapi in my heart and nothing can change it. :)

I feel that fans are only true fans if they can believe that yamapi is wonderful no matter what he becomes. ^O^