FIFTY FIFTY: The Backfiring Manipulated Fame & Betrayal of the Kpop Dark Horse

Less than a year since their debut, Kpop 4th-gen dark horse FIFTY FIFTY has shaken the entire music industry with their hit song Cupid as well as a serious lawsuit controversy. Today, more disturbing rumors about FIFTY FIFTY have emerged, suggesting that the CEO manipulated the song Cupid to achieve its virality and fame. Moreover, reports also revealed that Kpop group FIFTY FIFTY had allegedly backstabbed their own CEO. So, what really happened to FIFTY FIFTY? Read on for a more detailed discussion.

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FIFTY FIFTY: Backfiring Lawsuit and Manipulation of the 4th-Gen Kpop Dark Horse – What Happened?

The Kpop community has recently been taken aback by the roller-coaster reputation of 4th-gen dark horse FIFTY FIFTY. Coming out of nowhere, FIFTY FIFTY suddenly went viral on TikTok with their song Cupid. Then, their instant skyrocketing popularity brought the group to dominate various music charts, even breaking the record of their predecessor BLACKPINK.

Most importantly, all these happened within only seven months after their official debut in November 2022.

As of today, the public has begun to question and express conce rns about the sudden popularity of the Kpop dark horse, FIFTY FIFTY. That is especially after FIFTY FIFTY involved themselves in a lawsuit against their own company. Rumors even began spreading that the skyrocketing popularity of FIFTY FIFTY and their song Cupid was a result of manipulation.

On July 1, a post emerged on a Korean online community, claiming that FIFTY FIFTY CEO had invested 8 billion KRW (approximately 6 million USD) to make Cupid viral on TikTok. This size of investment shocked the public, bringing huge questions about whether the popularity of Kpop group FIFTY FIFTY and their song Cupid was indeed manipulated.

What REALLY Happened Behind the Viral Song CUPID?

So, what happened, and how did the CEO use this massive amount of money to make FIFTY FIFTY and CUPID go viral?

According to the community post, the strategy that FIFTY FIFTY’s CEO used to make Cupid viral had been famous among the people in the industry. A Twitter user @HAVAQQUQ, claiming to be a member of the underground Korean media company Young Gifted & Wack, recently shared a piece of email they obtained about Kpop group FIFTY FIFTY.

Leaked email about FIFTY FIFTY viral song Cupid promotion. | Twitter

The user didn’t provide details of how they had acquired the email as well as its source. However, the email provided crucial information about how Kpop group FIFTY FIFTY and their song Cupid reached their instant skyrocketing popularity.

The screenshot of the acquired email revealed promotional content. The email particularly invited YouTubers to join their promotional program, paying them a cooperation fee if these creators used a certain song in their YouTube shorts.

In addition, @HAVAQQUQ also suggested that ATTRAKT had put a considerable amount of resources into boosting the popularity of FIFTY FIFTY and Cupid on TikTok. Similar to the YouTube Shorts strategy, the user revealed that ATTRAKT had paid some TikTok content creators to incorporate FIFTY FIFTY’s Cupid into their contents.

This was in contrast to what ATTRAKT had previously advertised. Instead of going viral organically because people like the song, Cupid went viral because of marketing strategies.

참고로 요건 최근에 입수한 바이럴 제안 메일. pic.twitter.com/UjL6iT7F45
— 하박국HAVAQQUQ-303 (@HAVAQQUQ) June 29, 2023

Kpop Dark Horse FIFTY FIFTY Faces Criticism Due to the Lawsuit

Along with the shocking reveal, the rising popularity of Kpop dark horse FIFTY FIFTY backfired due to their recent lawsuit against ATTRAKT.

Korean media outlet TV Report stated on June 29 that Kpop group FIFTY FIFTY had gained negative public opinion after filing a lawsuit against their own company.

The public began voicing their mixed opinions against the Kpop group, stating their it was too hasty for a rookie to demand exclusive contract termination because of issues in their settlement. That is especially true when this group has not been active for a year.

“They didn’t even come from a large entertainment company. Isn’t it too early to ask for a settlement?”
“The group only debuted less than a year and has only one (famous) song. But now they already talk about settlements.”
“This group already suspected nontransparent settlement after only one successful song?”
“Now that you’re popular, you’re accusing the company of ‘nontransparent’ payments?”
“I thought the company wanted to focus more on discovering talents than making money?”
“If I were FIFTY FIFTY, I would just go to a larger company.”

Backstabbing the CEO?

More reports also revealed that Kpop group FIFTY FIFTY had allegedly backstabbed their own CEO.

According to Wikitree, FIFTY FIFTY’s CEO had sold his car and 10-year-old Rolex to invest on the group. He helped them study English and bragged about the girls so much because he liked them and thought of them as his daughters.

Wikitree also reported that ATTRAKT’s CEO Jeon Hong Joon, who discovered the group, once told Sports Seoul that he had to sell his watch and car to fund the group’s album.

“We have to pay the upfront commission fee to the Korea Music Copyright Association if we want to release a physical album. But we didn’t have the money. So, I sold my Rolex watch I had worn for 10 years to a second-hand designer store without hesitation.”
CEO Jeon Hong Joon.

The report also revealed how much the company had allegedly put their dedication to the group.

Unlike other common releases, all 4 songs of FIFTY FIFTY have music videos. Additionally, their dorm also has 3 rooms and 2 bathrooms. It is considered a luxury for a Kpop group to have such a dorm since not even large agencies are able to do it.

Due to this revelation, the public’s opinions have shifted strongly against Kpop group FIFTY FIFTY and their lawsuit. Instead, they believed ATTRAKT CEO Jeon Hong Joon gained even more support.

With the ongoing lawsuit, FIFTY FIFTY now becomes the group that has betrayed their CEO’s dedication.

Nosediving Reputation of the Kpop Dark Horse Due to the Backstabbing Lawsuit and Alleged Manipulation

Finally, what do you think about what happened behind Cupid’s alleged manipulation and backstabbing lawsuit of the Kpop dark horse FIFTY FIFTY?

Did you believe the viral popularity of Cupid was truly a result of manipulation? And do you think FIFTY FIFTY had backstabbed their CEO with the recent lawsuit?

Please share your thoughts in the comments. Meanwhile, stay with Kpoppost Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram channel for more FIFTY FIFTY updates.