“Are You Taekook Shipper?”: HOLLAND Addresses Fans Who Attempt To Out Gay K-Pop Idols

Openly gay K-Pop idol HOLLAND addressed a comment regarding shipping.

“Shipping” is a term popularized in fandom culture. It’s a verb to describe when one wants two persons to be in a romantic relationship. Fans ship fictional characters and even real people, especially if they’re members of the same music group.

In the K-Pop community, companies often capitalize off of this by having idols do fan service, such as skinship, although it can be “queer baiting.” Fans who “ship” members will also have nicknames for a pair that they want together, although no one knows whether the idols are really together or not… or even gay.

So, recently, when HOLLAND held a live broadcast, he noticed a comment. Someone asked him if he shipped “TaeKook,” the ship name given to BTS‘s Jungkook and V.

HOLLAND read it, saying, “Do you know TaeKook?” He then took a moment of pause, shaking his head.

@holland_vvv_official

Please don’t ask me about whether ‘taekook’ or any other K-pop male idols are gay or dating. It can be disrespectful to them, and it makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to know who might be LGBTQ+ in the K-pop industry, and even if I did, I wouldn’t want to discuss it.

♬ 오리지널 사운드 – HOLLAND

HOLLAND reposted the clip on social media. He added a statement, asking netizens to refrain from asking personal questions regarding idols’ relationships and sexuality.

Please don’t ask me about whether ‘taekook’ or any other K-pop male idols are gay or dating. It can be disrespectful to them, and it makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to know who might be LGBTQ+ in the K-pop industry, and even if I did, I wouldn’t want to discuss it.

— HOLLAND

Please don't ask me about whether 'taekook' or any other K-pop male idols are gay or dating. It can be disrespectful to them, and it makes me uncomfortable. I don't want to know who might be LGBTQ+ in the K-pop industry, and even if I did, I wouldn't want to discuss it. pic.twitter.com/GMqpES5udf

— HOLLAND (@HOLLAND_vvv) November 1, 2023

He has no intentions of invading idols’ privacy and outing them.