K-pop Idols' sudden love for Starbucks face backlash amid Palestine-Israel boycott

In recent days, a wave of controversy has swept through social media, gaining momentum with the boycott of products aligned with Israel or perceived as supporting Zionist causes. Notable global brands, including Starbucks, McDonald's, and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), have found themselves at the centre of this heated debate.

Particularly significant is the involvement of influential figures, such as Kpop-Idols, Hollywood celebrities, and local influencers, including politicians and other public figures. These personalities, with their massive fan followings, hold the power to sway public opinion and influence consumer choices.

One intriguing facet of the discourse is the stir of drama within the Korean entertainment industry, where strict branding and advertising laws dictate the public association of artists with specific brands. This industry norm aims to avoid controversies that might arise from affiliations with politically sensitive issues and branding conflicts.

In adherence to these regulations, it is customary for Korean celebrities to discreetly remove brand labels before sharing images featuring products. This precautionary measure is designed to maintain a neutral stance on global affairs and to safeguard the reputations of both the celebrities and the brands they are associated with.

However, the current predicament revolves around the discovery that some artists have been overtly showcasing products from brands linked to Israel, such as Starbucks. The revelation has triggered backlash from citizens, including the celebrities' own fan bases. A notable example is the case of Somi, who recently posted a selfie featuring herself with a Starbucks coffee cup.

Another artist found to be supporting the brand is Jisoo from BlackPink.

Her bandmate, Jennie has also shared her solidarity with Starbucks in this blurred photo.

Meanwhile, Aespa members have been publicly sharing their consumptions of McDonalds and Starbucks, including product placements during press conferences.

Hoshi, from the band Seventeen, has also been posting photos holding a cup of Starbucks coffee.

Doyoung, Jungwoo, and Jaehyun from NCT127 has also been experiencing the "Strabucks brand placement" fever.

Besides these brand photo-ops, there have also been some Korean celebrities who have been known to be an Israel supporters such as Siwon from Super Junior, who took pride with his photograph with the Israeli ambassador in Korea, Chaim Choshen.

Picture extracted from Siwon’s X @siwonchoi, where he captioned: “It was a meaningful and enjoyable time. Thank you for having me, Ambassador Chaim Choshen. We had such a wonderful time. Thank you so much for inviting me, Ambassador Chaim Chosen @israelinkorea".

Widespread suspicions among internet users and the K-pop diehard stans have suggested that Starbucks may be heavily financially compensating these idols for their promotions.

Many users on X, especially those from Malaysia and around the region, are pointing out the hypocrisy of these artists’ fans. Despite claims that their favorite idols may be unaware of the Starbucks boycott and the situation in Gaza, many argue that it’s widely known that the Korean idols are highly engaged and informed online.

The internet users are also applauding Korean citizens for their heightened awareness and consistent protests since the onset of the Israel-Gaza escalations. This has led to a poignant reflection on the alleged discrepancy between the social consciousness of the idols and that of the broader Korean public.

One user @yoonminkookiess says: “K-pop idols are KNOWN for never, ever showing branded products unless they’re official ambassadors, and now in the last two days, a load of them are posting Starbucks cups.”

Another user @bmoplanet says: "with the influx of kpop idols being shown or showing their starbucks drinks and cups its not a coincidence that mcdonalds decided to choose doyoung as a model for their campaign. everyone involved knows what theyre doing and shame on them. BOYCOTT MCDONALDS. BOYCOTT STARBUCKS".

It must be noted on its official website, Starbucks states that it has never sent any of its profits to the Israeli government or military. Its CEO Laxman Narasimhan last week said those protesting the firm and disrupting its outlets over the Israeli occupation and agrression to the Palestinians were being misled by incorrect information shared online about the company’s beliefs.