really hate the "x is bigger than kpop" or "x is not kpop" discourse. I think it's problematic and quite racist if you ask me because why are we still insulting kpop as this small non serious field? I thought we've gotten over this? way to make one of asian successes into a mockery thing, that calling your idol "kpop" seems like a bad thing.
it's almost like these fans are pandering to the west, that western validation aka Grammys or recognized as a pop artist seems more of a credibility and means you've achieved the peak of your career. can we stop putting so much value on western idea of success?
kpop is a stepping tool for these idols and without kpop, they wouldn't even be where they are now. they started their career because of their exposure to kpop and being trained as one. if they achieved enough success in the industry, it's very easy for them to start working for foreign projects like america. that's how any entertainment industry works, even my local industry is like that. It's not easy to work in Hollywood when you're some random jane/joe from another country so having a career in your own local industry first is a great portfolio to have. so the argument that an idol is not kpop or bigger than it, is just very disrespectful to their beginnings and almost racist-spirited because you're looking down on non-western local industries as some mere child games and Hollywood as the big deal.
P.s, I don't even follow kpop much anymore (I mostly listen to English/french songs now) but sometimes I keep up with the news and kpop fans behavior these days is so childish and problematic. Just enjoy the damn music, you don't hear pop fans saying "well my fav PERFORMED at the Grammys so mine is definitely better", do better.
