It hasn’t even been a few days since Starship Entertainment launched glimpses of the concept of Kiii Kiii, and the new K-pop girl group has already faced unexpected controversy. Not only that but Starship Entertainment has also been accused of lying simply to create PR buzz for the new girl group. Some even criticize the company for having sabotaged its very own artist by debuting Kiii Kiii.
So, what really happened behind this debut controversy of Starship Entertainment’s new girl group, Kiii Kiii? Dive deeper into the issue with us.
Starship New Girl Group Kiii Kiii is Facing Unexpected Controversy Ahead of Debut
Starship Entertainment, the K-pop agency behind the stellar presence of IVE and MONSTA X, has been gaining massive attention for the upcoming debut of its new Kpop girl group, Kiii Kiii.
Previously, we have discussed how Starship successfully captivated Kpop fans with the never-seen-before aesthetic the company had brilliantly chosen for the new girl group, Kiii Kiii. Not only that but with this impressively iconic concept lies rumored members with promising talent and breathtaking visuals.
Yet, even though this new girl group from Starship has yet to announce its debut date, Kiii Kiii is already facing unexpected controversy. What made it even more surprising is that the controversy came not only from fans of a rival company, but also from fans of its own artist. Why? Because the circulating rumor is that Starship Entertainment has lied to create PR buzz for Kiii Kiii, while sabotaging its rising artist at the same time.
Viral Marketing Controversy: Kiii Kiii Member was NOT an SM Trainee?
Once Starship Entertainment released glimpses of its new girl group concept and social media, leaked information started circulating about the rumored members of Kiii Kiii. This leaked information is not new to Kpop. It has long become a part of the PR strategy to build anticipation for the new group. Some other Kpop groups have also used similar tactics, including YG with BABYMONSTER, THE BLACK LABEL with MEOVV, and SM Entertainment with Hearts2Hearts.
Among Starship new girl group, Kiii Kiii, leaked information, one name impressively stood out and gained the most attention: Subin. Born in 2006, Subin immediately created a massive buzz around Kiii Kiii due to her elegant and chic visual and the fact that she was reportedly trained under SM Entertainment before joining Starship.
But unexpectedly, once rumors about Subin started circulating, a staff from SM Entertainment’s rookie development team commented under a post on Instagram. In the comment, they claimed that they had never seen Subin before.
“Who… is she…? It’s my first time seeing her.”
An alleged staff of SME Artist Planning & Development Center.
This unexpected statement shocked fans and raised immediate doubts about Subin’s supposed background. If a staff member from SM’s trainee system claimed to have never seen her before, did it mean Starship had exaggerated or even fabricated her SM trainee history?
Therefore, many Kpop fans started questioning Starship’s credibility. Some suspected that Starship deliberately spread false information about Subin’s past to generate hype for Kiii Kiii. And it’s especially concerning after a K-pop fan once predicted that a mid-sized company (like Starship) might spread false or misleading rumors about trainees being from big labels like SM.
Now, many believe that this prediction has come true, causing a backlash against Starship.
Starship is Sabotaging Its Own Artist By Debuting New Girl Group, Kiii Kiii
As if the above controversy is not enough, Starship Entertainment is also facing accusations of sabotaging its own artist with Kiii Kiii new girl group debut. That is because one of the company’s existing artists, Kihyun of MONSTA X has long been using the name for his concert merchandise.
The name Kiii Kiii sounds the same as KiKi and uses the same hangul in its Korean name, 키키. And “KiKi” is the very name that MONSTA X Kihyun has been using to promote his very own merchandise and brand. The Starship artist has also been using “KiKi” as his nickname on the fan message platform app. He has also created YouTube content using “KiKi” as the name for his personal branding.
Today, MONSTA X Kihyun’s military discharge is only a week away. And the Starship idol has been preparing to organize a fan meeting using his personal nickname, “KiKi.” Yet, ironically, it was his very own company who rained on his parade.
By using the same name for its new Kpop group, Starship now faces accusations of sabotaging Kihyun’s longtime branding effort. Now, when fans hear the name “Kiki,” they will no longer refer to Kihyun, but Starship new girl group instead.
Kiii Kiii Debut Controversy: What Do You Think?
Finally, the upcoming debut of Kiii Kiii, this controversy surrounding Starship Entertainment has caught the attention of many fans.
Some are wondering if the company’s marketing strategy was misunderstood, questioning the authenticity of the so-called SM Entertainment staff. Meanwhile, others simply claimed that this behavior has been a typical method of Starship’s viral marketing strategy.
And as for Kihyun’s branding, fans have been calling out Starship and questioning their decision to choose the same name.
But what about you? What do you think about this unexpected controversy surrounding Starship new girl group debut, Kiii Kiii? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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