Boyband group SB19 is under fire for tweeting what foreigners deemed as a ‘racist’ post about their Negros Island on the blue bird app.
SB19, the first Filipino group trained by a Korean entertainment agency, recently held a concert in Negros Occidental in central Philippines.
Hello, Negros!
We are now in your zone!
Excited na kami sa mga mangyayari sa aming first stop for our nationwide tour ?#SB19inNegros #SB19 #SB19_JOSH #SB19_SEJUN #SB19_STELL #SB19_KEN #SB19_JUSTIN pic.twitter.com/oMRAI1wO4M— SB19 Official (@SB19Official) December 21, 2019
Their fans, collectively known as ‘ATIN,’ came to the rescue, explaining that the group is referring to the place they are visiting.
For those who might be unaware here is a bit of geography and background into Negros — the fourth largest island in the Philippines. @SB19Official is a respectful group who are also caring of their international fans.#SB19inNegros#PUSHAwardsATIN#SB19 pic.twitter.com/ZaMZ8dxmhG
— A’TIN International (@ATIN_Intl) December 23, 2019
hello just to clarify, theyre not being racist!! Negros is an island in the Philippines (it has two provinces: Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental)
while youre at it, pls stream "Go Up" by SB19!! theyre really good singers and dancers so i hope u guys give them a try <33 https://t.co/ygxfRIC0aW
— sai ? (@fluffsjin) December 22, 2019
The said tweet earned the ire of netizens unfamiliar of the Negros provinces in the Philippines, prompting them to accused the P-pop group of racism.
Be careful of the words you use
— Agent_Lymon (@HighLymonade) December 23, 2019
#KPOPisCANCELLED https://t.co/gRnEkSvTMy
— jameson / uMental (@uMentalOW) December 22, 2019
Meanwhile, some netizens were amused with the fans’ and fellow Filipinos trying to explain the reason behind the island’s name.
non-filipinos quoting this sends. it's the name of the island here in the philippines. it had a different name back then but after spaniards colonized the country they changed the name of it because the people who lived there had dark skin ?️?️ https://t.co/LrDIznaiFV
— victon subin actor of the year. (@NewWorId_VlCTON) December 22, 2019
Its funny how people gets triggered by SB19's "Hello Negros" post without trying to search for facts. They just visited an island in the Philippines that is called Negros (fyi, i was born and i grew up here).
— III (@shelauzy) December 29, 2019
Ang funny ng comments dun sa SB19 negros issues.
— Missie (@Mjssie) December 25, 2019
Nevertheless, the SB19’s concert in Negros went well.
