MONSTA X Fans Grow Fiercely Divided Over The Group’s 5th Anniversary Ad Designs
Earlier this month, Mubeat Official tweeted an announcement claiming that MONSTA X fans have successfully completed the “MONSTA X’s Subway Ad Project” and that Monbebes can hence “submit anniversary ad design proposals“.
🚇#MONSTA_X's #Subway_Ad Project Completed!🎉
Submit an image to be used as MONSTA X's anniversary ad!
Image with the most RTs by the due date will be used.📍Location: Hongdae Station, Square Pillar (1 wall)
✔️Image Due Date: 22nd April 17:00(KST)#Mubeat @OfficialMonstaX pic.twitter.com/llPY6ndBk7— Mubeat Official (@mubeatTV) April 7, 2020
To this contest, some Monbebes — who still believe former member Wonho to be a part of the group — began submitting designs that showed “OT7“.
Two days later, Mubeat then clarified that “Only images with official members during the time period of the subway ad can be used” and these OT7-supporting fans left behind some harsh criticism:
Sucks for you, @mubeatTV. You’ve just participated in cancel culture and supporting defamation.
— PINNED!💙다시 만날수있겠지❤️ (@cuzimafighter7) April 8, 2020
You support DEFAMATION, CYBERBULLISM AND HATERS…now I really see why the industry is so messed up and many idols have mental health problems and even attempt to end their lives this cancel culture should stop NOW
Wonho was innocent don’t support haters it’s disgusting
— Fantasia X:follow:found 🐰 (@onehoed) April 8, 2020
this is a debut anniversary ad and monsta x debuted as seven. thank you very much but we’d rather have an ad with mxbb logo than a picture with less than seven members. period.
— 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗞𝗝𝗔 ✨ (@sambakjaa) April 8, 2020
More submissions followed — but as per the new rule, these designs did not include any pictures of Wonho. Instead, Monbebes opted for symbolism. The designs still hinted at OT7 — with seven dots, seven flowers, seven names, and so on.
We will be submitting this 💙
Text: “Like Monsta X who started and will end with Monbebe, we’ll also be Monbebe who started and will end with Monsta X.” @OfficialMonstaX pic.twitter.com/bdZ7nYu4tg
— JIA지아✨ (@hamhammzi) April 8, 2020
In the end, Mubeat selected the a Korean Monbebe’s ad that clearly showed the now six-membered group. This final announcement sparked an intense battle in the comments section — over why “the most retweeted design” did not get selected.
Congratulations!!👏👏 This image has been chosen for #MONSTA_X's Anniversary Subway Station Ad that will be at HONGDAE station for the whole of MAY!!🎉
Thank you for participating!❤️❤️
*Only images that conform to the guide and e-mailed within the time period are considered. https://t.co/5tcdEb2BJ2
— Mubeat Official (@mubeatTV) April 23, 2020
While Mubeat has not provided the frustrated fans with an understandable response, another Monbebes vs. Monbebes situation arose over IDOL CHAMP‘s anniversary ad design contest.
#FANDOM_AD_EVENT#몬스타엑스 데뷔 5주년 모금 성공🎉
지하철광고할 시안을 선택해주세요🙌
Choose your favorite ad draft for celebrating #MONSTAX debut anniversaryVote👉https://t.co/ZZdPpyGtP1 (~4/25) pic.twitter.com/bEGru1EyLR
— 아이돌챔프(아챔이) (@idolchamp1) April 24, 2020
When this tweet dropped the three finalists, some Monbebes became extremely offended by the overall design of option #1…
- “I’m pretty sure some Monbebes are voting for #1 because one of the album covers show Wonho in the pictures. It’s ridiculous.”
- “I can’t imagine seeing #1 blown up full size, displayed on the subway wall. Like I can’t even… Please save us all the misery.”
- “What are you doing, IDOL CHAMP…? You should have made the right call and turned down designs like #1. Are you actually in your sane mind?”
- “And to think IDOL CHAMP thought #1 could compete with #2 and #3… I don’t know what to say. I would rather die than see that on my way to work every day.”
- “This isn’t even about the whole OT7 or whatever anymore. Just look. Look with your eyes. #1 is not a good quality ad. What good would that bring to whom?”
… while other Monbebes expressed disappointment in the six-membered pictures used for options #2 and #3.
@idolchamp1 are you okay?
MX = 7 pic.twitter.com/rHlk7A81km— wonho ❣ missing you (@Wonhomybunny2) March 26, 2020
MONSTA X IS 7 !!!! REPLACE WITH THE RIGHT PHOTO!!#JOOPOCALYPSE #JooheonIsBack #BringWonhoHome #Wonho#MONSTAX @OfficialMonstaX@STARSHIPent @STARSHIP_STAFF @Epic_Records @eshygazit pic.twitter.com/smVVsZdoV4
— 🐰 Carolina 🐰 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰 (@serenity235) March 26, 2020
But will you make it ot7???? 🤨
— Բɿ૭Һ੮૯Րც૯ც૯ ~ ChangKi 📌 (@shinigamibutter) March 26, 2020
IDOL CHAMP is yet to announce the winning design, but MONSTA X fans remain fiercely divided over the designs.
