Why is “# Hybe Protect Jimin” trending on X? Fans furious over a novel allegedly featuring the BTS’ idol as the villain in the storyline

Why is “# Hybe Protect Jimin”  trending on X? Fans furious over a novel allegedly featuring the BTS’ idol as the villain in the storyline (Images via X/@bts_bighit & @Akimasawattpad)
The novel Ocean was first published on Wattpad by Emma Emond. (Images via X/@bts_bighit & @Akimasawattpad)

Many BTS fans have opposed the launch of a book that allegedly villainizes BTS member Jimin. Fans took to social media and shared posts with the hashtag "#HybeProtectJimin". This was in reaction to a novel written by French author Emma Emond. The book, titled Ocean, was originally posted on Wattpad, an online platform for reading and writing stories.

In the story's original version, the Serendipity singer is said to be depicted as a bully and harasser. The novel's plot revolves around a Boy Love (BL) relationship between BTS members Jungkook and Taehyung, commonly called "Taekook".

Within the BTS fandom, those who particularly like the pairing of Jungkook and Taehyung are called "Taekookers". A section of fans believe that "Taekookers" only support the duo, often at the expense of the other five members. Now Emma Emond is being deemed a "Taekookers" for portraying Jimin negatively.

The outrage against Ocean amplified after the author hosted a book signing event. Expressing their frustration, a fan shared photos of the book signing event and wrote:

"With the name of Christ, can these people stop using Jimin a villain in their fics? I’m sick of it. And moreover, they did for money?? Too much already! The author is sick, I can say that."
"so a taekookers wrote an entire wattpad fic makin Jimin the villain and now they're selling it ? The absolute disrespect he is gettin over some ridiculous poorly written story is beyond disgusting. This fandom has hit rock bottom," another fan wrote.

Some fans also urged others to report the author's Wattpad account and alert Hybe on the agency's newly launched online portal made for reporting defamatory posts and copyright infringement.

"Please report her on wattpad and with Hybe on the link they give a few day ago. This is so wrong & I can’t believe there are people making a line for an autograph!! All these delulu shippers are so disgusting," another X user remarked.

Following the outrage, Emond deleted the story from Wattpad and clarified that the book version was no longer about BTS.

However, the situation remains tense as fans demand that Hybe take action to protect the artist's reputation and ensure such incidents do not happen again.

"The audience buying your book is STILL buying it on the basis that it's a taekook fanfic where jimin is portrayed as a villain. deleting the wattpad book isn't gonna cut it. you're still profiting off of defaming and butchering jimin's character. unpublish the book," a fan argued.
"You changed the names not because you care about the members but you are scare of getting sued cause it’s against PIPA law in SK if you printed out the book version with members names and images," another eperson remarked.

Emma Emond alters character names following backlash from Jimin fans

Emma Emond responded to the criticism by changing the character names in her book and distancing the story from BTS. She claimed that Ocean was no longer associated with BTS or Korea and had been transformed into an original story with different characters. On her X account, she explained:

"The names have CHANGED. This is not about BTS or even Korea anymore. This is not a BTS story anymore but an original story with MY own characters. I would be very angry too if a Taekook story was published but my book is not a Taekook story anymore AT ALL !"

Despite these changes, many fans were not convinced. They accused Emond of profiting from the negative portrayal of Jimin and exploiting BTS for monetary gain. They argue that such portrayals not only harm the idol’s dignity but also create unnecessary negative narratives around him.


Jimin is currently serving his mandatory military military conscription. He enlisted in the military in December 2023 and is expected to be discharged in June 2025.

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Edited by Niharika Dabral
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