Concerns Surface As SM Entertainment Excludes Red Velvet From New Merch Lines
Fans of Red Velvet have been left with concerns of mistreatment and disbandment after SM Entertainment announced new merchandise lines that don’t include the group.
SM Entertainment’s official merchandise store, SMTOWN &STORE, releases new products for fans on a regular basis. The latest merchandise line is a series of number plate keyrings featuring each SM Entertainment group’s name, debut date, and official colors.
All currently active groups were included in the new product collection, including aespa, NCT127, NCT DREAM, WAYV, SHINee, and Super Junior.
The line also includes SM Entertainment acts that haven’t had a group comeback within the last year: TVXQ, Girls’ Generation, and EXO.
One artist, however, is notably missing from the collection: Red Velvet.
Red Velvet’s last comeback as a group was with global hit “Psycho” in 2019, shortly before main vocalist Wendy suffered an accident which left her on hiatus for several months.
Since then, the group has released two singles: SM Station song “Milky Way” in August 2020 and Start-Up OST “Future” in October 2020. Several members of the group have also alluded to an upcoming comeback, promising that they will greet fans in the first half of this year.
Given that Red Velvet is still active under the company, fans have been left shocked and confused by SM Entertainment’s omission of the group from recent merchandise lines.
last time I checked, red velvet is still part of sm.. what's going on?? https://t.co/MLoQYLQ1Pe
— ʙɪᴇ 💜 (@pinkredbie) March 8, 2021
While Red Velvet was included in a stationery set collection announced on March 4, the group was also missing from a line of handbags revealed on February 23. SHINee, EXO, Super Junior, TVXQ, Girls’ Generation, and NCT were all included in the handbag merchandise collection.
Many fans are calling this is the latest action in a long line of mistreatment from SM Entertainment. ReVeluvs say the company has been failing to adequately promote the group for several years.
I’m sorry but what the actual fuck is this lmfao idgaf if the keyrings are ugly or not the fact they left rv out of it is so????? what little respect do they have for them this is acc messed up https://t.co/UpWez5ca3O
— 𝓮li🐇 (@irenesneck) March 8, 2021
i don't even care about keychains but why are they excluding red velvet like this while mentioning all their other artists https://t.co/0kwzSIOQBt
— mansi (@roseforjoy) March 8, 2021
This latest “snub” comes just months after Yeri revealed that Red Velvet’s comeback had been delayed on her YouTube show, Yeri’s Room, which was recently unexpectedly canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances” by SM Entertainment’s SM C&C division.
We are having delays in our comeback. It’s gonna happen soon, but…
— Yeri
Recently, fanbases have been organizing events to contact SM Entertainment demanding better treatment for Red Velvet, including more posts on social media for individual member activities. Many are now calling on fans to contact SM Brand Marketing to demand answers over the new merchandise.
Other fans believe this could be a sign that Red Velvet may be disbanding in the near future. The group’s contract is set to expire in August this year when Red Velvet reaches its 7th anniversary. If one or more members decided not to renew their contracts with SM Entertainment, they may face disbandment.
oh they’re really done.. https://t.co/XV9nPUW5cD
— ♡̶ (@cuddlechvv) March 8, 2021
imagine finding out your faves disbanded through keyrings https://t.co/5SomY1I5yI
— pri (@originaIvisuaI) March 8, 2021
As of now, SM Entertainment is yet to issue a statement on why Red Velvet has been removed from merchandise collections.
