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On Monday, August 19, fans and netizens celebrated BIGBANG's 18th anniversary, recalling the original lineup despite the group now consisting of only Taeyang and Daesung. All members have left YG Entertainment, and many tagged both current and former members, including T.O.P, G-Dragon, and Seungri, in their posts. However, T.O.P, who left BIGBANG in May 2023 after ending his contract with YG, reportedly wasn't happy about being tagged in the anniversary posts.
T.O.P, seeking to distance himself from his identity as a former BIGBANG member, reportedly blocked fans who tagged him in anniversary celebration posts, causing a stir online. While some fans understood his desire to move on and create his own identity as a solo artist, others argued that he can't erase his successful past with the group. Many felt that allegedly blocking fans was too extreme and unrealistic.
Here's how fans reacted to the same:
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"This is a bit too much considering fans have been with him since day one. Blocking fans for associating you with a band you were apart of for 14+ years is a bit extra," commented one netizen.
"I like him as soloist, actor and respect his choice but blocking fans on Instagram and that too just cause tagged him? why he's pretending as if he hadn't been part of group for years not to mention his position was literally major one, it's inevitable to be ignored? ridiculous" said a fan on X.
"I respect his choice to have left bigbang and to want to go on a solo path, but isn't the fact that he doesn't want to be associated with bigbang anymore to this point too far out of line? it's thanks to vips that he is where he is now. blocking a fan seems a bit excessive to me" stated an X user.
On the other hand, fans have been supporting the idol's decisions. They stated that netizens needed to respect his boundaries and if T.O.P did not want to be tagged, they should adhere to what he wants.
"He withdrew from the group and didn't want to be associated anymore with BIG BANG. It doesn't mean that he hates the group even though he blocks your accounts after tagging any BIG BANG-related posts. This is his closure and fans gotta respect that." said a fan on X.
"Some fans do indeed need a rude awakening. He’s been vocal enough about going solo and leaving the group. Why can’t you celebrate without tagging him. Even GD didn’t tag him. Respect boundaries" stated an X user.
"Stop tagging him. He already said his going solo...I will respect his wish and I will keep his last post of BIGBANG with me." added another fan.
All you need to know about former BIGBANG member T.O.P and his recent activities
T.O.P, otherwise known as Choi Seung-hyun, is a 36-year-old K-pop idol, singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. The idol debuted under YG Entertainment in 2006 with his fellow BIGBANG members, G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung, and Seungri. While he was the lead rapper of the K-pop boy group, he departed from both the agency and the K-pop boy group in May 2023.
His contract with YG Entertainment reached an automatic termination last year, and he confirmed the same through his Instagram account. When the idol made a post regarding his solo activities and the ongoing creation of his solo albums, several of the comments enquired about his relationship with BIGBANG. The idol replied with:
"I've already withdrawn... I've already told you guys that I'm leaving and I'm now facing a new chapter in my life since last year."
However, this piece of information was a shock to many as people believed that his departure was only from YG Entertainment and not BIGBANG too. Regardless, fans have been supportive of the idol's solo activities. Most recently, the idol announced his own Korea-based wine company called T’SPOT.
