exo + kris thoughts
This post was made with the assumptions that the real battle going on is between Chinese Media vs SM Entertainment, and that Kris is just a pawn in a bigger chess game.
+ I don't doubt that SM overworks every member of EXO, whether it's singing in a studio, practicing dance, or whatever else idols do. If any of the health issues coming out of the rest of the group aren't any indication. My personal thoughts on whether Kris is being selfish for leaving or EXO is selfish for wanting him to stay aren't material here, the point is that if Kris wanted to file suit for "human rights violation", he probably has a case, myocarditis or no.
+ I do think the news of him being cast in a C-Drama is highly suspect for any immediate health issues since drama filming is actually really long and exhausting.
+ If I was going to choose a member out of EXO to fracture their venture into the Chinese market, I'd choose Kris. Out of the four Chinese members, Luhan may be the most popular among EXO fans, but Kris is the one that would appeal to the wider public if he weren't in a boyband, in that he's tall, handsome, and appealing in a way that would also be acceptable to men. Once the ball gets rolling, to most people, he'll only be known as "that guy that used to be in that South Korean boyband" (and the more extreme comments will say "good thing he got out"). His career will be fine.
+ Don't think that just because Tao had an angry outburst doesn't mean that his reaction isn't being closely monitored either. If I were SM, and I wanted to play victim, I would heavily encourage all of EXO to have angry outbursts right now, because if SM releases anything, it's brushed off as damage control or "lies". On the other hand, if his members did anything to a point where it looked like "they can't even control their pain", then it would reflect unfavorably on Kris, and favorably on the members/SM. Two birds, one stone.
+ I already expressed my thoughts about Kris going into this situation armed with a company who employs media manipulators, but the search engine results really have me thinking they're dealing with more than just zealous fans. Either you're dealing with a company that has control over search engine results (think Google equivalent or even the government) or you're dealing with spamdexing on a DDoS attack intensity (which is what Anonymous uses to bring down government sites).
+ The Chinese members in EXO-M aren't going to emerge unscathed. The fans might know the bigger picture, but most people in China don't give a shit to know. They definitely already get crap for being part of a Korean company, but now that they knowingly stayed even while being treated badly (which, lbr is probably a little bit true), they'll be seen as greedy traitors--not to Kris, but to China. EXO fans will stay with them, but the public as a whole will revile them for unsubstantiated reasons ("Isn't he the one who molested his niece?" "Isn't he the one who backstabbed Wu Yifan?").
+ Since Kris is concentrating his activities in China (rather than EXO-M who barely promoted in China during Wolf/Growl), his visibility will be greater, and could be seen as more trustworthy. Also...I don't like to put it this way because we're pulling a curtain back on the racism/xenophobia in Asian culture, but if they knew that Kris intentionally screwed over a Korean company, I don't think most Chinese people would be horrified. I think they'd be impressed. Glad. Because one of their own outsmarted this Korean movement that their daughters love (you know how things young girls love are trampled on everywhere in the world). Everyone who wants the truth to be revealed...it won't do much, honestly.
+ Last thoughts are: K-pop idols aren't family, they're co-workers. Please stop this OT11/OT12/OT9/OT7/OT5 nonsense, in the end, they do what they need to do to advance themselves and protect themselves. JYJ sued to get out of DBSK. Block B banded together and sued as a group. That doesn't make Block B's bond stronger, it just means they decided this was the best method to get what they wanted--together. It's nice to have OTP's and OT-Group bonds, but when things get serious, use your eyes and not your blind faith in what is essentially marketing.
+ I don't doubt that SM overworks every member of EXO, whether it's singing in a studio, practicing dance, or whatever else idols do. If any of the health issues coming out of the rest of the group aren't any indication. My personal thoughts on whether Kris is being selfish for leaving or EXO is selfish for wanting him to stay aren't material here, the point is that if Kris wanted to file suit for "human rights violation", he probably has a case, myocarditis or no.
+ I do think the news of him being cast in a C-Drama is highly suspect for any immediate health issues since drama filming is actually really long and exhausting.
+ If I was going to choose a member out of EXO to fracture their venture into the Chinese market, I'd choose Kris. Out of the four Chinese members, Luhan may be the most popular among EXO fans, but Kris is the one that would appeal to the wider public if he weren't in a boyband, in that he's tall, handsome, and appealing in a way that would also be acceptable to men. Once the ball gets rolling, to most people, he'll only be known as "that guy that used to be in that South Korean boyband" (and the more extreme comments will say "good thing he got out"). His career will be fine.
+ Don't think that just because Tao had an angry outburst doesn't mean that his reaction isn't being closely monitored either. If I were SM, and I wanted to play victim, I would heavily encourage all of EXO to have angry outbursts right now, because if SM releases anything, it's brushed off as damage control or "lies". On the other hand, if his members did anything to a point where it looked like "they can't even control their pain", then it would reflect unfavorably on Kris, and favorably on the members/SM. Two birds, one stone.
+ I already expressed my thoughts about Kris going into this situation armed with a company who employs media manipulators, but the search engine results really have me thinking they're dealing with more than just zealous fans. Either you're dealing with a company that has control over search engine results (think Google equivalent or even the government) or you're dealing with spamdexing on a DDoS attack intensity (which is what Anonymous uses to bring down government sites).
+ The Chinese members in EXO-M aren't going to emerge unscathed. The fans might know the bigger picture, but most people in China don't give a shit to know. They definitely already get crap for being part of a Korean company, but now that they knowingly stayed even while being treated badly (which, lbr is probably a little bit true), they'll be seen as greedy traitors--not to Kris, but to China. EXO fans will stay with them, but the public as a whole will revile them for unsubstantiated reasons ("Isn't he the one who molested his niece?" "Isn't he the one who backstabbed Wu Yifan?").
+ Since Kris is concentrating his activities in China (rather than EXO-M who barely promoted in China during Wolf/Growl), his visibility will be greater, and could be seen as more trustworthy. Also...I don't like to put it this way because we're pulling a curtain back on the racism/xenophobia in Asian culture, but if they knew that Kris intentionally screwed over a Korean company, I don't think most Chinese people would be horrified. I think they'd be impressed. Glad. Because one of their own outsmarted this Korean movement that their daughters love (you know how things young girls love are trampled on everywhere in the world). Everyone who wants the truth to be revealed...it won't do much, honestly.
+ Last thoughts are: K-pop idols aren't family, they're co-workers. Please stop this OT11/OT12/OT9/OT7/OT5 nonsense, in the end, they do what they need to do to advance themselves and protect themselves. JYJ sued to get out of DBSK. Block B banded together and sued as a group. That doesn't make Block B's bond stronger, it just means they decided this was the best method to get what they wanted--together. It's nice to have OTP's and OT-Group bonds, but when things get serious, use your eyes and not your blind faith in what is essentially marketing.