#BoycottCocaCola Trends After BTS’ V Joins Brand Campaign

The recent backlash BTS’ V is facing for starring in the brand’s marketing campaign for Coke Zero is forcing some to reconsider how ARMYs support certain artists who seem to have lost their way. The bombshell controversy was officially ignited on July 31, when Kim Taehyung was announced as the new face of the world’s most beloved soda company, Coca-Cola.

It didn’t take long for netizens to express their outrage and disappointment on social media. They claim that BTS’ V has put himself out of line by joining a brand on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) list, especially during a genocide in Gaza.

Taehyung Outrages Fans With Latest Ad Campaign

On Thursday, July 31, V was officially announced as the new face of the popular drink brand, Coca-Cola Zero, in South Korea. Taehyung replaced fellow HYPEBEAST labelmates and K-Pop rookies NewJeans as the group’s official image ambassador for the new ad campaign, hashtagged #BestCokeEver.

When it comes to K-pop idols joining hands with big-name brands, it is not unusual for them to do so for the sake of promotion, marketing, or even just for the fun of it. However, not all of their endorsement deals go smoothly. As in the case of BTS’ V, this one has created a huge storm, inviting netizens and anti-Zionist activists to confront him on Twitter, as seen in an Imgur screenshot that has since gone viral.

From Rapper to Hypocrite Supporting Genocide in Gaza

One of the reasons why Taehyung was met with such widespread criticism was most likely due to the stark contrast between the boy’s public image and the group’s activism in the past. It was especially surprising that BTS as a group has yet to make a direct statement about the situation in Gaza, but have no problem whatsoever associating themselves with brands that promote Jewish culture and values, as seen in their past endorsements.

Fans were also reminded that although BTS has actively spoken up for social issues in the past, such as inequality and racism against Asians, as well as taking a stand for the Black Lives Matter movement, the group was and still is “shamefully quiet” when it comes to the topic of Gaza.

According to reports, V was not the first celebrity to attract a massive amount of criticism for endorsing or promoting various products and brands that the world’s most beloved soda company, Coca-Cola.

It didn’t take long for netizens to express their outrage and disappointment on social media. They claim that BTS’ V has put himself out of line by joining a brand on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) list, especially during a genocide in Gaza.

Taehyung Outrages Fans With Latest Ad Campaign

On Thursday, July 31, V was officially announced as the new face of the popular drink brand, Coca-Cola Zero, in South Korea. Taehyung replaced fellow HYPEBEAST labelmates and K-Pop rookies NewJeans as the group’s official image ambassador for the new ad campaign, hashtagged #BestCokeEver.

When it comes to K-pop idols joining hands with big-name brands, it is not unusual for them to do so for the sake of promotion, marketing, or even just for the fun of it. However, not all of their endorsement deals go smoothly. As in the case of BTS’ V, this one has created a huge storm, inviting netizens and anti-Zionist activists to confront him on Twitter, as seen in an Imgur screenshot that has since gone viral.

From Rapper to Hypocrite Supporting Genocide in Gaza

One of the reasons why Taehyung was met with such widespread criticism was most likely due to the stark contrast between the boy’s public image and the group’s activism in the past. It was especially surprising that BTS as a group has yet to make a direct statement about the situation in Gaza, but have no problem whatsoever associating themselves with brands that promote Jewish culture and values, as seen in their past endorsements.

Fans were also reminded that although BTS has actively spoken up for social issues in the past, such as inequality and racism against Asians, as well as taking a stand for the Black Lives Matter movement, the group was and still is “shamefully quiet” when it comes to the topic of Gaza.

BTS V Was Preceded By Other Celebrities Who Crossed A Moral Line

In 2023, Taehyung also experienced an almost identical amount of backlash for taking part in another controversial ad, this time for the restaurant chain McDonald’s. In June 2023, BTS’ V has also received negative responses from netizens on social media for posting a photo of him eating McDonald’s fries.

The criticism towards V is not the first the brand has received, either, especially since many BDS campaigns have been focused on boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against “companies that support Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid.”

It didn’t take long for netizens to express their outrage and disappointment on social media. They claim that BTS’ V has put himself out of line by joining a brand on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) list, especially during a genocide in Gaza.