Seventeen’s YouTube show faces backlash over product placement of sweet treat

K-pop

Published: 22 Aug. 2022, 15:59 Updated: 22 Aug. 2022, 16:42

Seventeen’s YouTube show faces backlash over product placement of sweet treat

Boy band Seventeen’s YouTube show “Going Seventeen” is under fire for apparently planning to feature a product placement (PPL) advertisement from Baskin-Robbins, which is owned by SPC Group. The company has been facing a boycott due to controversy that it mistreats its workers.

Toward the end of the latest episode of “Going Seventeen” uploaded on Aug. 17, the trailer for the next episode scheduled for Wednesday features a few seconds of members eating ice cream from Baskin-Robbins. Many cups can be seen on a table, with the Baskin-Robbins logo fully exposed.

While only shown on screen for a few seconds, some fans took notice and claimed that the scene was an upcoming product placement from Baskin-Robbins.

SPC is under fire over allegations that it forces its employees to work excessive overtime.

After criticism of the apparent product placement gained traction a few days after last week’s episode and trailer were uploaded, the hashtag “Going Seventeen, cancel the Baskin Robins PPL” trended at No. 1 on Korean Twitter over the weekend.

“Please cancel the PPL, since it’s not worth damaging Seventeen’s image as an artist,” reads a top comment under the latest episode of “Going Seventeen.” “There are many Carats [Seventeen’s fandom] participating in the boycott. [Seventeen] needs to be mindful of the influence they have."

Seventeen’s agency Pledis Entertainment could not be reached for comment as of Monday afternoon.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]