Idols Go Solo And Deepfakes Send People To Prison

Somebody’s solo era starts overnight, a label’s contract drama spills into public view, and deepfake creators are getting prison time. That’s the energy of this Music Elixir conversation, where we connect the dots between K-pop industry news, fandom behavior, and the real-world consequences of what gets posted online. We talk through Heeseung opening new social channels under the stage name Evan and what a fast rebrand can say about planning, identity, and creative direction.

Then we dig into the messy side of the business: reported contract terminations involving Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin from EXO, plus the broader ripple effect when a company faces financial instability and legal allegations. These stories aren’t just headlines to us, they’re a reminder that idols are working artists navigating contracts, settlements, and power structures while still trying to perform at a high level.

We also get serious about AI deepfakes, privacy invasion, and defamation. SM Entertainment’s legal update shows how hard the crackdown is landing, and we share practical ways fans can avoid spreading harmful fake content. From there, we jump to Japan with STARTO Entertainment and Snow Man calling out malicious rumors and speculative posts, because the same online culture problems are crossing borders.

To end on a huge fan moment, we celebrate ARASHI announcing a livestream for their final Tokyo Dome concert, including how ticket access and archive viewing work, and why it feels both exciting and heartbreaking. If this gave you something to think about, subscribe, share the episode with a fellow fan, and leave us a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Transcript

Concert Hype And Ticket Battle Plans

SPEAKER_01 0:19

Hey there. Thank you for joining the conversation with us, Music Elixir. I'm Sarah Shee, and with me is Miss DJ Pennett. Eee. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:31

We are already. So so before we started the episode, we were already like ranting and going crazy and just Yeah, we were. We are hype up because today's April 11th. Sarah and I we're gonna have a double feature on BTS. Because we're we're that kind of army.

SPEAKER_01 0:52

We're that kind of crazy, mate.

SPEAKER_02 0:54

Army?

SPEAKER_01 0:57

We're probably not the only ones, so I don't feel yeah, no. No shame.

SPEAKER_02 1:02

Family's like, we're only doing one. I'm like, that's fine. That's fine. Y'all, you're gonna whatever. Doing the two. Plus, we also don't also go and be the um so today is in Korea, and then the next one is in Tokyo.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

Tokyo, yes.

SPEAKER_02 1:19

We are going to that one again. Double future.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

Double future.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

Because this is the year of BTS.

SPEAKER_01 1:26

Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_02 1:27

This is the year of BTS.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

I mean, there's other things going on too, but this is really uh I know.

SPEAKER_02 1:32

Be on other episodes, I have said this is the year of straight kids, which it is. Once if something happens that Sarah and I can, of course, attend this is the year of straight kids. We'll be there. We'll be there for the boys before they go on military.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

I know.

SPEAKER_02 1:51

Because they're getting to that point.

SPEAKER_01 1:53

I know. We already had our I am from Monster X, which which they also just announced a tour that we're like, should we go? Yeah, we should go. We should go.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Oh yeah, we're doing a VIP if we can.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

Yeah, well, I was like, I wonder if we can get those, you know, the special fancy seats there at MGM with tables and I was like, Yes. Oh man, you know?

SPEAKER_02 2:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

I was like, this is another one we should go all out for.

SPEAKER_02 2:21

But we'll we'll see the VIP package. Uh is that gonna so that's gonna drop on April 13th at 3 p.m. 13 or 14? Hold on. Is it on a Tuesday?

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Tuesday, it's on a Tuesday, 12, 13th, 14th. So the Tuesday. Because if today's the 11th, yeah, 12, 13th, 14th at 3 p.m. Yes. Okay. For an October show, but yes. I'm gonna be at work. You're gonna be at work. How are we gonna do this? Uh, it hasn't stopped me before. I know how many times have I brought my laptop to work? I know to buy tickets.

SPEAKER_02 3:01

You know, my supervisor is so cool, I can be like, hey, I'm gonna work from home. She asks me why, I'm gonna be like, Well, you know, I want to get some tickets. She'll probably be like, okay. I mean, my boss is so cool. She's like, as long as you do your work, I mean, you don't cause any problems. You actually resolve problems. I'll be okay. Just don't say anything.

unknown 3:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:24

No, they they're pretty flexible with me. I took that uh day off though to buy the BTS tickets. Yeah. Because I was like, I'm taking no chances. I'm gonna be there and ready after the whole J-O debacle trying to get tickets. I was like, nope, you know what? I'm just gonna be home ready to go. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 3:46

Oh, anyways. But yeah, we'll we'll figure out a way. We'll we'll get there. We're going to see, we're we are going to see Monster X, and we are gonna get V V by P tickets.

Heeseung Rebrands As Evan

SPEAKER_01 3:56

We are, we are, we are yes, we will manifest it right now. Yes, alrighty. So huh.

SPEAKER_02 4:03

So let's start with some eh news that been going on in the K-pop industry.

SPEAKER_01 4:10

But there's one that is like Yeah, there's a few.

SPEAKER_02 4:15

But there's one that it that okay, so let's let's let's let's go talk about that. So let's start with the first. We were like, oh, really? He san launches new Instagram account under new stage name Evan ahead of solo career. Now you told me about this, and I found it on Supi. And I'm like, ooh, so on April 8th, I'm reading this from Sunpi and Verbatum. Uh Heesan has officially kicked off his solo journey by launching new social media channels under the new the name Evan. Huh, Evan. Okay. On April 1. I'm Earth. April 8th, he launched a new Instagram account introducing his new new name, new stage name. I can't even talk because I was just like flabbergasted about this. Uh, along with a series of photos that highlights a more unfiltered and personal side. Okay. Uh his agency, B LifLab, describes the image as capturing the purest form of Evan, an artist at the very beginning of his identity before any external definition is applied. This is very um already planned, what it sounds like.

SPEAKER_01 5:37

Well, that's yeah, that's what I was thinking. I was like, because I know the announcement of him leaving was like four weeks ago, like a month, but still to have all of these concepts and stuff already in plan, good to go. Evan, what why would you pick Evan? I don't know. Interesting. This is how my mind works. I'm sorry. But I was like, right? Evan from He Song. It like it, I don't know how that happens.

SPEAKER_02 6:07

Well, he says here, um, Evan is a name I have cherished since childhood. Um one that holds many of my most precious memories through his name, through this name, I hope to reach fans with music that fully expresses my most honest and natural self.

SPEAKER_01 6:26

Some nice photos.

SPEAKER_02 6:27

Have you seen this?

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Oh, of course.

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Oh no, he's very photogenic. I mean, he's beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 6:31

These are very very well done. But again, only a month's worth of time, that's like woo, boom, bang, bang, bang. Well, I guess if he's been thinking about for a while and the company's been debating it with him for a while, it would actually happen pretty quick, but I'm sure fans are a little surprised. Um I was suspecting more like six months.

SPEAKER_02 6:56

Yeah, you would think, but this is like four weeks later, boom.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Yeah. Wow.

SPEAKER_02 7:03

It's kind of like those uh so that's interesting.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

I wonder why those early pregnancies get married quickly, and all of a sudden the baby's born, yeah, seven months later.

SPEAKER_02 7:15

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 7:17

Like, oh wow. You had a very short pregnancy. That's a tale as old as time, though.

SPEAKER_02 7:24

So you know what I mean? Like it kind of feels that way. Only, you know, I'm leaving the band. Oh, guess what? I have now a solo career. It's like, what? What, dude? You didn't even let the fandom settle a bit. I know, right? It's like boom, right into it. Wow. That's just to let you know he's been wanting to go solo for quite some time. This quite quick.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

Well, in the uh even in the official statements, he had said that this he was part of the whole B-lift thing to attain this goal. Like this has always been his goal. So, you know, hey, more power to him. Yeah. Again, though, Evan, a name since childhood that he's cherished. Like I'm trying to think of Evans, you know, like who's named Evan somewhere that would have inspired this? Maybe he knew someone through school childhood, you know.

SPEAKER_02 8:22

Tell her friend. Yeah, who knows? He didn't say a movie or anything like that.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

Yeah, I don't know. That's kinda crazy. But not again, like we said, these things come about if people wanna branch out, move on. So he was ready, raring to go.

SPEAKER_02 8:43

Ooh. So I Google the meaning of Evan. Evan is a predominantly masculine name of Welsh origin. Meaning God is gracious or a young warrior.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

What's funny is I know a lot of Welsh people with the last last name Evans, but not like Evan, you know, as a first name per se. So uh we knew somebody named Evan, but rest in peace. So interesting. Hmm. So everything, yeah, everything comes about for a reason, I guess. Well, hopeful hopefully all goes well and he gets the support he needs. And as we've said so many countless numbers of times, even if he wasn't your fave in, you know, support the group that's still there, support him as well, you know what I mean? If he or sorry, I should say, if he was your fave in the group, continue to support him, but like you liked the band or the group for a reason, so continue to support them. Yeah, you know? Yeah. Everybody just spread the love. Spread the love. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 9:55

It's this it's his decision, and you know, it's better that he does this than just to be miserable in the group, and then you can tell. Because you can tell. Oh, definitely. When you see them live, it's like, what's going on with so and so? What's going on? You know, like you can tell that just like detached from the activity itself.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

Yep, even with all that idle training of how to come off as happy and personable, you can always sense that underlying tension. You can always tell when you see them live.

EXO Contract Terminations And Label Chaos

SPEAKER_02 10:26

Yeah, no poker face, we can tell. On other news, uh, this one is gonna be hitting hard for some people. Chen, Beckyum, and Siuming reportedly notify INB 100 of contract termination. This has been a shit show for quite some time, you know. Uh so this is from Sumpy again. Um, but on Vervader, you know, the the situation's gonna be continuing. It's messy, it's still unfolding. Because there's more things going on. Just like the thing is that Chen Beckyong and Siumen is like the one of the powerhouse of EXO. I mean, their vocals are like they can go solo and it's like they can still have fans just because they're that good. But also um just hmm. I mean, the the company itself is not doing very good.

SPEAKER_01 11:23

Well, I was gonna say, yeah, there's within the article they talk about regarding unpaid settlements, alleged contract violations. So even their uh one of their heads of the company was we're working to normalize the company and do our best to resolve the situation, whether it's through additional investment or by using personal funds. So, yeah, that definitely says there's something.

SPEAKER_02 11:48

Yeah, that's uh CEO Chaga One is basically just saying we're trying to fix this. Our Trim claims that they're working to stabilize you know the operations and like even hitting at bringing in more investments or come or covering things personally if needed. I mean, this is bad.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

This is bad. Well, and those three they're not the only ones leaving or or threatening to leave, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 12:16

There's yeah, they have uh besides Becky. So INB 100, um it's the lab is a label of Beckham itself, but sitting up towards the m the um towards independence post SM Entertainment, of course. Then later it became part of a bigger structure under 100 uh with Chaga One stepping in as the major shareholder and key decision maker. Maybe after that, that's kind of like everything went downhill. But well, you know, I mean look at what's going on. But here's where it gets uh bigger with just EXO members. It's uh it isn't this just a natural situation. A growing list of artists, you know, like uh um including members of The Boys, Tamin. Yes, we've been hearing that a little with Tayman too. Uh Li Mu Jing, Bio, V Vix, and Li Song Gi have also reported file, you know, file uh for contract termination. I mean, might as well dissolve the company, you know, pay what you need to pay and just enough.

SPEAKER_01 13:26

Yeah, exactly. File bankruptcy if that's what you need to do and fix the finances and yeah, I don't know. It's kind of crazy.

SPEAKER_02 13:37

Also, Chaga One is currently facing multiple fraud allegations tied to contracts involving artists, intellectual property, and advanced payments that allegedly failed to result in actual business activities. Authorities are said to be actively investigating. Yeah, that's crazy. Yeah, so bottom line, this is like just contract drama. This is contract drama full of industry shake-ups, like in the progress, because you know, it's gonna take years, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 14:14

It could, yeah. I mean, look how long the whole new jeans thing took.

SM Deepfake Crackdown And Prison Sentences

SPEAKER_02 14:19

Yeah, we're just gonna we'll be seeing this. We're gonna be keeping an eye on this. Because this is another, yeah, just like new jeans, man. Oh my goodness. But in another news from Korean, SM Entertainment provides update as deep fake offenders receive prison sentences. Remember we were like, we read that. Well, not this is not verbatim, but just so it's like we we cut the shit here, everybody's gonna go to jail. We're gonna find you and we're gonna expose you, and which they did. They plastered out the uh everybody's um handles from like whatever you know platform they were. Oh my god. I'm like, what? Yeah, they weren't kidding. What? They're like, wow, this these lawyers are working for the money. Isn't it the Shin group, right?

SPEAKER_01 15:17

We were like, they're gonna be they're gonna be pulling in the money.

SPEAKER_02 15:21

Oh, there are like, we're getting money, we're getting paid, we gotta do whatever we can. I mean, if you need some, yeah, you gotta have the money to perhaps to having them on behind you. Yo, that's a lot. So, according to Sun P, this actually article came out on April 10th. SM Entertainment has issued an update on its ongoing legal actions against deep fakes crimes targeting its artists. So, a let statement following Vervadum from SM Entertainment. We would like to provide an update on our ongoing legal actions. Our company is currently taking strong legal measures against acts that cause serious harm to our artists, including the spread of fake information, defamation, sexual harassment, yay, thank you, beep fakes, personal attacks, yay, thank you, insults and invasion of privacy, even yay, 100% thank you. Because some of these fans have gone way beyond going to people's houses, even following them wherever they at.

SPEAKER_01 16:30

Managing to get inside places, yo, you know, like oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_02 16:36

In particular, the creation, distribution, and possession of illegal fabricated, obscene materials constitute not only malicious crime that sexually humiliated and mocked our artists, causing them severe distress, but also serious offenses that can lead to significant defamation and damage to their image by creating the false impressions that the artist is actually involved. As such, we are actively cooperating with investigative authorities by collecting evidence and film complaints and filing complaints, and we are also strongly petitioning the court for strict punishment. Yeah, because people are creating AI images of the artist doing all kinds of stuff.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

Oh yeah.

unknown 17:27

I'm like, what the hell?

SPEAKER_01 17:28

And there's I'm sure they're selling these images. Well, yeah, probably there's other platforms, you know, where you can post stuff and do things and yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:38

This is the AI slot that people have been hugging and also have been increasing on Instagram, also on YouTube. You'll see those little shorts, and you're like, oh, who's this? And I'm like, that's not really my idol.

SPEAKER_01 17:52

What is it doing? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not this.

SPEAKER_02 17:56

It's like, no, that's like no. So it's like using their image for whatever they want to.

SPEAKER_01 18:03

Oh, yeah, no, it's it's insane how many. And there's certain certain idols you can tell these things because you're like, well, sure, like the the one that gets you every time that is just so obvious is actually JK from BTS. There's a lot of things people are posting, like of him. Supposedly, I'm like, if just look at his hands, there's no tattoos. This is his face AI generated on someone else's body, and you need to like pay attention to these things, you know. Yeah, but it's like it's crazy how out of control, yeah, the AI stuff has gotten.

SPEAKER_02 18:38

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:40

It's ridiculous. And it's like, but there is, there's always something you can tell. You're like, um, no, my guy's like taller than that or shorter than that. Like you know, or you're like, where's the mole?

SPEAKER_02 18:51

Where's the mole that he always has on his left cheek? Where is it?

SPEAKER_01 18:55

Yeah, you know, so it's just it's mm-mm.

SPEAKER_02 18:57

Yeah. When fans are when you're a fan, when you're a fan and you're so like really a fan, pick every little nick, nicking cranny of your favorite, and you'll say, No, that's not them. How do you know? This, you know? Yep. No, the sh the shape of his earlobe is look doesn't look the same. You know? The eyebrow, the unique eyebrow that he has, that's not not there. What happened?

SPEAKER_01 19:24

Actually, you know, and the ear is like a fingerprint, they're very distinct. Of course.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

So you can yeah, you can tell that that's another one where you're like, it's like his left ear is too low, not like that. You know, man. Yeah, because we catch those little things. And especially JK all the tattoos that he has.

SPEAKER_01 19:46

Yeah, because they're not his aren't hidden, you know what I mean? No, I can't. And especially on the hand, those are so distinct. Exactly. And if you don't see them, I mean, you know, if there's gloves on, of course, you could be fooled. But I'm like, when it's bare hands and you don't see tattoos, you know it's not him. So don't buy into it, you know.

SPEAKER_02 20:04

So yeah, reading on on this, as a result, most suspects involved in deep fake related cases can be uh apprehended. A total of 12 individuals, including Park or Park, sentenced to four years in prison, five years of employment restriction, and 80 hours of sexual violence treatment program. Wow, so they're naming these people by last name. Lee, three years and six months in prison, five years of employment restriction, and 40 hours of treatment. Goal three hour three years in prison, five years of employment restriction, and 80 hours of treatment. Another Lee, three years in prison, five years of these people are not gonna have any money. No, I was gonna say five years employment restriction. Employment restriction. Dang, that's it's not only prison, but you all you can't work. So 40 hours or so they also have to go through treatment. They have to go through some wow, Metzi, somebody named O. Two years and six months in prison, five years of employment restriction, and 40 hours of treatment. And a child, oh, we can have a child. Two years of uh two years and six months in prison, five years on unemployment, unemployment restriction, in other words, and 80 hours of treatment, and more have been sentenced to imprisonment under charges, including violation of the act and on special cases concerning the punishment of sexual crimes. Whoa. Wow. Distribution of fabricated videos. Okay, here. This is the AI person. While the defendant filed repeated appeals, all have been dismissed and their sentences have been finalized. They are

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Currently serving their prison terms. Wow. Yeah, then nobody's playing around with this anymore. Mm-mm. Because here I I'm just thinking like, you know, shirtless photos being AI generated. I'm not like videos. Yeah. Whole videos of stuff going on. Yeah. Wow, that's like serious. Serious.

SPEAKER_02 22:22

Yeah. Wow. So uh many predators of deep fake crimes attempt to evade investigation by sharing illegal fabricated obscene material. Damn. Through anonymous overseas social media platforms. Oh. Huh. Interesting. Yeah. However, our company is working closely with multiple law firms in the United States.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

Oh, of course.

SPEAKER_02 22:47

Yeah, the lawyers up here, they're like, we need to get on the bandwagon. We need to get yeah, hello. We need to get some of that money. So of course they're gonna be like, yeah, well, come to us in. We want to help. Um, and through investigation tracking, these individuals are also being apprehended without exception with related investigations currently ongoing. As criminal penalties for the creation, distribution, and possession of deep fakes are being enforced very strictly. We urge everyone to exercise caution to avoid becoming involved in such unlawful activities. We will also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the platforms such as Telegraph. Oh okay, X Twitter, Instagram, Discord, and DC Inside for their cooperative in these efforts. Oh wow. Guess what? So you know what? Well, you know, X Twitter, we all know that's like free-for-all in there. I know.

SPEAKER_01 24:00

Yeah, I'm surprised that they're helping out because they're like, whatever, do what you want.

SPEAKER_02 24:06

Instagram is like, uh yeah, we need to cooperate, you know. We need to cooperate too. And um, Discord is another one that is very popular within like the 20 somethings and the 30 somethings, and so they just thought it's like, oh yeah, we're gonna be cool, and nobody's on this platform. Oh, hell no.

SPEAKER_01 24:24

Well, because it's under the guise of being sort of a private thing. And I'm sure there's even other there's always been, you know, underground websites and stuff to oh yeah, the dark web. Yeah, trade stuff back and forth. Yeah, interesting. But you know, it's funny because uh yeah, telegraph. There's always fake people trying to be like, hi, this is so and so from whatever group. Yeah, just come chat with me on telegraph. Come follow me. You know what I mean? It's like yeah, no. Catfishing, yeah, exactly. Catfishing.

SPEAKER_02 24:56

Like, no, no, your your fave's not messaging you personally to come hang out on the Nobody's fave is gonna be doing none of that unless you actually meet your fave and maybe you have been friends for high school or whatever. I don't know, for years, many years. Hells no.

Snow Man Warning On Rumors

SPEAKER_01 25:17

Wow. So there you go. They're getting serious, and they're not, hey, they're not the only ones. Nope. Because we could use that to segue into one of the other stories. Oh yes. That actually came out this week as well. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Out of Japan. Exactly. You have that one? Um, I oh, I don't think I have the article up, but everyone knows. One of our favorite entertainment groups, Starto in Japan, yes, issued yet another warning to people about spreading malicious rumors and content. And yeah, they're we're gonna start seeing these same repercussions happening in Japan because they're like, leave our artists alone. Cause and this is, I swear, they have to come out with this every three, four months. So now it's specifically regarded.

SPEAKER_02 26:12

I remember seeing this on the Snowman X Twitter. Uh, this was posted on their X Twitter on April 10th around uh uh 6 30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Um I'm reading this uh from their X Twitter translated saying, Thank you sincerely sincerely for your continued support of Snowman. We have an important request for everyone. Currently, posts containing speculative content or information that differs from the fact are occasionally seen on social media. The spread of such information, as well as aggressive remarks direct at related parties or individuals is an act that hurts many people. We have said that many times. We sincerely ask from the bottom of our hearts that you refrain from slander, defation, or statements based on speculations. We want to cherish the environment where we can enjoy ourselves with peace of mind together with all of you who support us. We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation. There is also the actually even Oricon posted from their uh legal. Yeah, I think Oracon Model Press.

SPEAKER_01 27:37

Yes. Like I said, it's it was on Snowman's site, it was on Starto's X Twitter. Yeah. Account, their account. That's the word I was looking for. You know, so this is yeah, they um from the Starto account, they've got it up there saying, you know, the company stated that a large number of baseless posts and defamatory comments based on speculation about our talents have been confirmed on social media. We are taking legal action, including requests for disclosure or sender information against the posts that have been confirmed to date that infringe on artists' rights. So, and again, like this isn't the first time they've issued a warning like this, but now it's specifically in regards to snowman.

SPEAKER_02 28:25

Yeah. And I'm like So back in January, it was for the starter to move. That was a but even before Starter to Move, there was one as well. Um they had to post that out. It wasn't as intense, but then when the starter to move happened, it got started getting like uh you guys need to, you know, what you know what you are hurting people, like what's you know, and now this one they're like, you know what, you know, third time is this you know, strike out where this is we're done. We are going to be behind this and find the people who are just well, I'm just I'm glad I haven't seen any of this stuff.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

Because every time I, you know, you see something negatively posted about your favorites on any platform, yeah, I do I get PO'd.

SPEAKER_00 29:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:14

Because I'm like, what why are you if you don't like them, don't like them. That's your business. That's fine. Have your opinions, you can have them. But like, what are you spouting off to the whole world? Because you're not gonna change the minds of the people that do like these artists. So unless the artist has in fact done something truly horrible and you see it in the news and it's been confirmed and whatnot, I'm gonna stand by them. You know what I'm saying? So, like, your opinion won't sway me, and there's no need to be nasty, no need to be derogatory, and now with all the deep fake stuff, you don't need to be creating false things because it's not even always fans creating things, you know, out of their little fantasy mind. It's people creating things to make someone look bad. So, you know, all that effort for, you know, something that you can just say, you know, I don't I don't like it. Just like if you don't like broccoli, you don't need it. You don't go running around to the world telling everybody that they should hate broccoli. Exactly. Exactly. So it's the same thing with these artists. If you don't like them, that's your prerogative. It's all good. Just why do you have to say anything nasty about them? Because again, you think you're hiding behind your social media account.

SPEAKER_02 30:32

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 30:33

Not anymore.

SPEAKER_02 30:34

Not anymore. Look at SM Entertainment. They really they have these lawyers that you don't really want them on your ass.

SPEAKER_01 30:42

No, definitely not.

SPEAKER_02 30:43

These lawyers are getting everything nitty-gritty on you. And you're going to prison.

SPEAKER_01 30:49

And you are getting prisoner. And it's gonna affect your whole life. Your life affect your whole life.

SPEAKER_02 30:55

If if look at what Islam is doing, they have these people, they cannot work.

SPEAKER_01 30:59

Well, I think work restriction means like they can only do certain types of jobs and only for you know what I mean? But I mean it's still That's if you had a really good job.

SPEAKER_02 31:10

Girl, even here in the United States, if if if your flag that you went for prison for something, you're still gonna be like, Yeah, I don't think we want to hire you. Yeah, definitely not. Something like it's a minor offense, you know.

SPEAKER_01 31:23

Even with that, people are like, hmm, really? Well, honestly, nobody's gonna want to hire someone who makes fake photos of compromising positions because you know what I mean. Yeah, you don't want that in your company. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 31:35

It's like, oh, is this here that you went to prison for three years? Uh what for?

SPEAKER_01 31:40

You know, exactly. Oh man.

SPEAKER_02 31:44

Oh yeah, I make fake pictures of blah blah blah and doing these kind of sexual acts. What?

SPEAKER_01 31:50

Or I made videos of it. Wow, yeah. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 31:57

But my Adobe, it's really good. No, yo, but I mean, besides kidding on the side, because we can get, but still, I mean yo, that's just that talent. If you have that talent, right? Why are you wasting it? Oh my god, all the good that you can do with that, right? Yo, yo, this is people who are bored, or uh I don't know. They just um I don't know. Like you all I always think, what kind of childhood you had, what kind of upbringing you had, what happened to you that you need to go in this just heinous hit hideous crimes.

SPEAKER_01 32:43

Oh yeah, no, definitely. Yeah, like I said, it's bad enough to just spout bad, you know, statements about people on an account, but to go the extra step to create images to back up your stuff, you know what I mean? Like, wow.

SPEAKER_02 32:57

It's just to think that kind of what that kind of imagination that you have that you can create such a world like that. Whoa, do something else.

SPEAKER_01 33:07

Like that something positive and constructive as opposed to yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 33:13

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 33:14

It's in it's crazy. So everybody just watch yourselves because these companies are not messing around anymore. They don't they don't want to hear it. Nope. They don't want to see it, and the artists shouldn't have to hear it or see it either. No, serious, your people.

SPEAKER_02 33:31

Our faves, the entertainers, our people. They're not robots, they're not romas, they're not like the Disney animatronics. They're not that kind. No, come on.

SPEAKER_01 33:42

Real people with real feelings, just like you and me. They're human and they're fallible. So again, unless it's a totally heinous crime, like you gotta give people a little slack and forgiveness, because most of the stuff people complain about are just simple things like, oh, you know, he said a curse word. Like, okay. I don't understand why that's so bad, but you know, ooh, he was out in public and seen standing next to a girl. So like, okay. Again, I don't see the problem here. So yeah, people gotta dial it back a little.

SPEAKER_02 34:18

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 34:19

Relax, calm down.

SPEAKER_02 34:20

Well, you know, we can we can always say that till we turn blue. I know.

SPEAKER_01 34:26

And people still gonna be like, like I said, I'm not saying you can't have your opinion, but no, of course.

SPEAKER_02 34:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:32

But if you know I like them, I don't want to hear your negativity. No.

SPEAKER_02 34:36

I have come to decisions that I'm like, I should not be looking at comment section.

SPEAKER_01 34:41

I know, I but you get sucked in sometimes. I I think it's just so I can be in indignant and angry and be like, how dare you say that?

SPEAKER_02 34:51

But you know it's like, you know, I just need to refrain from looking at the comment section. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 34:57

Because it's just well, that's why I was saying I'm glad I have I don't know what this is in regards to because I haven't actually seen anything. And I'm glad I haven't, because like I said, I'd be probably really upset and angry and panoid with someone.

SPEAKER_02 35:14

So yeah, yeah. I think it's better.

SPEAKER_01 35:16

Because we love those guys.

Snow Man Content We Love Right Now

SPEAKER_02 35:17

We love snowman. We love all those nine boys. Mm-hmm. I mean, they're awesome. They are speaking of snowman. Finally, I get to watch Dating Game with Koji Mukai. Oh, okay. The the it's it's a void love kind of drama. Yeah. Okay. 12 season, 12 episodes. Not seasoned, 12 episodes, and I'm like, wow, Koji's really good. And he's talking on his native tongue. Thai. Oh, cool. And he's all he's like this stoic type and whatever. He's the CEO of this company, this tech company that they do games and whatnot. Oh, cool. It's my type of drama. It's so cute. It's like cute, it's romantic, it's cute, sweet.

SPEAKER_01 36:03

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 36:04

It is the way he is, I'm like, ah, Kaji, I know how you are, but this is so good. This is like totally so different. Ah, this is so cool. Because you know, he's very like, you can get extra. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:17

There's maybe two, three members of Snowman that don't get extra. Yeah. They they can be crazy along with everybody else, but some of them, like Dice Case, just off the hook. Oh my god. And that's why I love them. Koji's another one. Watanabe can be pretty wild. Yeah. You know what I mean? So, like, yeah, you know, Miyadate. He's like subtle, but he's definitely he's like an off the hook in a like below the radar.

SPEAKER_02 36:47

Because he's like so excited about something. Because he's very well have you so like elegant and he's like composed most of the, you know, like majority of the time.

SPEAKER_01 36:56

Well, like, but think about have you seen all the little um clips of them for the new bang?

SPEAKER_02 37:02

No, oh no, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, but in in and out. I see. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:06

Have you seen his? I s oh, he is so elegant, right? But it's extra because it's that gigantic fan. But I think in the end post. I love it. Well, I'm not disparaging. It's awesome. But he was to me.

SPEAKER_02 37:21

I I reposted that today because I saw him. I'm like, oh my god, yeah, Dante, he's so elegant. Oh my god, the fanciness that he just gives. I know he just but but like it's extra on a different level. Because I know I said something. I said, because I saw that, and I'm like, oh my god. And I'm looking at him and I'm like, it was so awesome. Okay, Dr. Sama is so graceful. He is because even his kick is like, uh, has this like slow mo to it, and it's like the fan. I love the fan. It was awesome.

SPEAKER_01 37:58

The big but I mean, like, look at it. It's exaggerated, it's gigantic. It's awesome though. I love it. But I've been seeing all of those, and I'm like, oh my god, this is so funny. I'm just looking at him right now and I'll be like, yeah. Oh my god, it's so awesome. Yes, okay. So, anyways, they they've got definitely check it out.

SPEAKER_02 38:21

They've all got their little solo reel about the I saw, of course, Dice Gate. I'm like, Dice Gate, yeah, look at him. He's such a badass. He's such a badass. But yeah, no, my no, you know that that is a man just very intelligent doing his kick. But you've seen him, he's just like, he took the thing, it's not slow-mo. He's doing the slow-mo.

SPEAKER_01 38:43

It's just like that's what I but see, that's what makes him extra, right? Because he's like, I'm going to do my own, you know, like fake slow-mo, whatever he's doing, you know, with the fan and the kick and the I don't know. It was just crazy.

SPEAKER_02 39:02

Ren is a badass on this one, too. Ren. Oh. Yo. Ren at the end with the tongue. Hello. Like, yeah, I kick ass. Yeah. But this is of course because Ren is gonna be in the Sakamoto ways. Mm-hmm. So it is so cool. That is so good. It is. Ah, okay. Even Abe. I'm like, yo, look at him, there's little smirks and whatever. He's like, mm-hmm. Wow. Okay. All right. So um I'll do that. We can go on about that first. We love snowman. I mean, we love snowman.

SPEAKER_01 39:45

Yeah, definitely. They've they've just got such a great energy and a great They're awesome. Like group dynamic. It's cool.

SPEAKER_02 39:53

Yes, especially with a large group. It's hard, you know?

SPEAKER_01 39:59

But it's well, there's there's so many personalities, and they just all they click, you know? Like there's definitely the extras, and then there's the the low-key laid backs, and they complement each other and they work together, and even like looking back on the the New Year's thing, the concert, and seeing the way they were like working on stage together and being like, oh yeah, Iwamoto, you know, and he's he's like, I don't want to do okay, fine, I'll do the little dance and I'll do a little shimmy, and you know what I mean? Like he's like, All right, I'll go I'll play along with you guys. It's all good. And that's what I love about them. Is you know, they they do, they just they click.

Arashi Livestream Announcement And Dates

SPEAKER_02 40:44

They have the brotherhood. Come on, they have the brotherhood, which we love. Mm-hmm. We love love love when that happens. I mean, you can tell when you see a group where like, do they have the brotherhood? Do they have that? Do they have that it, you know, that it factor? Do they have that? Because not all of them do. Look at what happened to a hyphen. I don't know. My opinion. But the bigger news that we're gonna talk about right now. The bigger bigger news.

SPEAKER_01 41:18

All right, I I know where you're going with it now. I'm like, wait, which bigger, bigger news? The bigger, bigger news. The huge news. Yes, the exciting news. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 41:28

So please go back to our episode of April 8th. On April 8th, which we actually uh recorded in March. March, yeah. We were still like, well, they're doing all these people in their pictures, we're like, We're so jelly. Oh, by the way, girl. What today? Uh-huh. I just found out what somebody that we used to work with. Yes. You saw that. Yes, I did. I'm like, what?

SPEAKER_01 42:02

I know, right? Super jelly.

SPEAKER_02 42:04

So jealous. I even texted her and say, I am jealous. I I just said, wow, that's so awesome. No, I couldn't contain. I'm gonna be truthful and I'm saying, and I said to her, I am jealous, but that's okay. Enjoy yourself. And if you still see hello kitty, tell her I say hi, and then I love her a lot. I love her very much. Oh, out of all the people, I never thought that that person wanted to go to Japan. No, me either.

SPEAKER_01 42:36

And it's it's for their child. Yeah. Who I thought actually was more of a K pop fan, but I don't know what's see, this is I'm gonna have to I'll talk because I still work with their partner. Oh. So I will uh Oh really? Yes, I will return one back to your company? Mm-hmm. Oh, what happened to Fritor Leigh? It was uh the hours were bad, it just was not. They have to work like 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. or something. Because you're you're d doing, you know deliveries, yeah. And so they were just too tired to deal with life and they were missing out on things, so they came back. Oh wow. So I was like, I'm gonna have to talk to them on Monday about this. What's it? Wait a minute, the partner didn't go? No.

SPEAKER_02 43:22

Oh, so oh, wow. Mm-hmm.

unknown 43:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 43:29

Too much for the partner, probably.

SPEAKER_01 43:31

Yeah, well, I mean, you know, the older child is in uh college, so they have a different type of break system. Their youngest is still in high school.

SPEAKER_02 43:40

Ah okay, so yeah, because okay, I got it, got it. Oh my god, that's so awesome.

SPEAKER_01 43:47

So I'm gonna be like 20 questions on Monday.

SPEAKER_02 43:49

And like what I have been seeing, people who like anime also will be into K pop. So it's like kind of goes hand to hand. It doesn't, you know.

SPEAKER_01 43:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 43:58

Some people do are do arms. Purist of one, you know, type of genre. But there's other people like us and we're like, hey, we just everything. Give us everything.

SPEAKER_01 44:11

Whatever media you've got. We'll take just we'll lock everything.

SPEAKER_02 44:14

We're so like we all we're curious about everything. Yes. You know, if you okay. Okay, so we're diverging from from from the big news.

SPEAKER_01 44:24

So basically your point was they're going to Japan, yes. And we're very jealous.

SPEAKER_02 44:29

They're very jealous. But please go back to that episode of ours on April 8th, where we were like, we want to go to this tour, but we can't.

SPEAKER_01 44:41

And we were like, please do a live stream or release in the movie theater something. Please. We're calling out June. See June heard. Yeah. June. June. We were like, Adeshi, we need to see you somehow. Please.

SPEAKER_02 44:56

So on April 8th at 8.08 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, a post on Arashi's X Twitter announcing a live stream for their last concert on Sunday, May 31st at Tokyo Dome.

unknown 45:13

Woo-hoo!

SPEAKER_02 45:14

But everybody can see it. Yay!

SPEAKER_01 45:17

Well, fan club members get first, you know, round of stuff and they're gonna get something special. So we got a friend who's in the fan club. Maybe I don't know if they'll send it though internationally, but anyway. Okay. Yes, but we will be able to what on April 30th, I think, we can get the tickets. The general public tickets will be. Okay. So I'm using air quotes for tickets because, you know, it's not like we're gonna be in Japan seeing them, but it's a viewing. It's yeah, we're still yes.

SPEAKER_02 45:49

So date and time, okay, like we said, it's gonna be on the 31st, which is a Sunday on May 31st. So Arashi fan club members on April 10th, um, they will be able to get their tickets. Then following that will be fan club members on April 17th, and general public, which we are the general public, will be yes, on April 30th. Yes. So on Thursday uh of the following week.

SPEAKER_01 46:19

Okay. Yeah, so it's yeah, like fan club, then family club, then general public.

SPEAKER_02 46:26

Fan club, or it was yesterday on the 10th.

SPEAKER_01 46:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:29

So next week's gonna be fan club family fan club, and then the last Friday of the month. No, Thursday, on Thursday of the month, it will be then general.

SPEAKER_01 46:37

Uh, yeah. Yeah, I've still I've still got my little uh web membership thing, so I'll be able to access that.

SPEAKER_02 46:44

Okay. Yay! I can get it. Yay! Yeah, yeah, yay. So special footage, yes, prior to concert will be streamed from 1500 15 or 3 o'clock. Yeah. In Japan. Uh and then but we're gonna have an archive.

SPEAKER_01 47:04

Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 47:04

So the archive will be for everybody from June 15th all the way through Oh, the it will be available until June 15th.

SPEAKER_01 47:13

Okay, so that's what we're doing. So you'll have like two weeks to to re-watch it. But it'll probably they'll probably be a a schedule. I don't know if you'll be able to view it at any time because like when we did the final concert back in 2020. Well, it was New Year. I don't I can't remember anymore. It's been so long since we've seen them. But um we're doing the COVID in your living room wearing our masks. But um, because remember the the like few like uh future viewings, there were certain days and times that you could view. Yeah, so I don't know if they're gonna have a schedule like that or if it'll just be available to watch at your convenience. But either way, we'll be we'll be gathering to watch it.

SPEAKER_02 48:04

Yay!

SPEAKER_01 48:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 48:05

Oh my god, this is awesome. Well, you know, we'll we'll get to see it. We'll get to see it. I'm gonna wear my my bootleg RShi t-shirt at home. I don't have an RShi pen light, I'll I'll use one of my other groups. You know?

SPEAKER_01 48:25

Yeah, that's it's awesome. So we're very happy. Yeah, we were like, come on. So it's funny that the day we dropped the episodes is the day that they but we'd already been talking about it for ages. So somebody heard us, yeah, somebody listened.

SPEAKER_02 48:41

Yeah, since the beginning of like, yeah, there ain't gonna be no tickets for us. And I mean, not just us, all international fans have been like raging about not like angrily raging, but like being like the international fans that cannot go to the actual, you know. So thank you, Harashi. Yes, definitely. Thank you, June.

SPEAKER_01 49:10

Thank you, June. Well, thank all of them. Oh June, I can't wait to see your divaness. Thank all of them for for deciding that they would do this, that they would do one big, you know, final hurrah that they couldn't really do because of COVID. And despite Ono being like, I'm really I just want to retire and walk my dog and go fishing, he's like, All right, fine, I'll come back. Let's do it right, you know. So thank you, all of you. Oh well, you know, it was funny because my sister and I we were reminiscing about the Hawaii concerts we went to, and we were like, that was like the craziest thing, because the first day it was sunny and blaring heat, 900 degrees. And then, you know, the next day it was 900 degrees blaring heat, but then it poured on us and it I mean it dumped. I told you it was shortened out all the the uh video screens up above, like power was just going down on them and oh geez. But those guys danced their butts off, performed their butts off, like so. I'm just like these guys go all out all the time for their fans. And that's what I love about Rashi. They were like it was torrential. I mean, it was just like sheets of water hitting everybody, and they were up there laughing, having a good time, and just doing their thing, and it's just so awesome. So with uh Tokyo Dome though, it's in close, so they don't have to worry about fans. You know, it's a little cold right now to be having too many outdoor things going on. But towards the end, they could, but luckily fans don't have to do the end, they could. But no, it's I'm just I'm so jealous that people get to see them like live. Yeah, but getting a live stream is uh as good as we're gonna get at this point for us. Financially getting to Japan to see any of the shows, getting tickets to any of the shows would be next to impossible. So yes, yes, live stream next best thing. Yes, and so we'll get to see them even closer. I know, right? Yeah, that's true. It's very true. We're not gonna we'll get some good views.

SPEAKER_02 51:27

The only screaming fans there will be you and I. Because when the high one will come out, you're like, ah man. You know, and Nino Nina.

SPEAKER_01 51:40

I know, right?

SPEAKER_02 51:43

Oh man.

SPEAKER_01 51:44

It's I'm like, I'm sort of stunned and like I'm excited, but also a little melancholic because I'm like, this is it, man. This is it. We'll have tissues. I know. We're gonna need them. We're gonna need tissues. They put us through this before, so we'll be prepared.

SPEAKER_02 52:04

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 52:05

Because remember, I thought I was good, I was like happy, everything was great. And then when the show was over, I just lost it.

SPEAKER_02 52:12

I like cried for I was crying when I saw Ivan. Then more later on, I cried. And then towards the end, I cried. Sarah was just like enjoying. I'm just like, what? Even like even your your sister was like, Oh my god, Ivan. And then when it was over, yeah, you broke down, like you. I'm like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 52:33

Like, yeah, all of a sudden it hit me. I was like, damn, no. So that's I'm sure what'll happen again this time. I'll enjoy it in the moment, and then once it's done, I'm gonna be like, no.

SPEAKER_02 52:50

We're not gonna be the only ones.

SPEAKER_01 52:52

Oh no, definitely not.

SPEAKER_02 52:53

The whole dome will be like, wah, everybody probably I know that last show is gonna be in insanity. And be like, nah, probably.

SPEAKER_01 53:04

It's wow, yeah. I can't even imagine what that final show is gonna be like for the audience. Wow. To be there live.

unknown 53:12

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 53:13

It might it would actually probably be too much for me. I'd be like, Oh my god. I'd malfunction and there's gonna be a lot of fans like that. Yes, indeed.

SPEAKER_02 53:25

And we're just gonna be like just consoling each other, like I know, I know, I feel the same.

SPEAKER_01 53:30

I know people aren't gonna want to leave the dome. They're gonna be like, no, I'm staying here.

SPEAKER_02 53:36

I can't leave. There's gonna be a lot of fans cleaning up all the confetti, picking as much confetti as they can because it's the last confetti that RS is gonna throw out to them.

SPEAKER_01 53:47

Yeah. Oh we're crying now. I know.

SPEAKER_02 53:51

Dang. Just thinking about it. Yeah, wow.

Final Thoughts And Listener Review Request

SPEAKER_01 53:54

All right. I guess maybe on that note.

SPEAKER_02 53:58

Let's leave it like that. Thank you everybody for listening to our rants and rambling. You know, this time, this time, instead of doing our usual rant, whatever, I just like one thing that the the listeners to do for us. Just go to either Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Wherever there's a review, please leave us a review. Give us five stars wherever they have, you know, a ranking system.

SPEAKER_01 54:23

A rating system, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 54:24

That's all we need. This is actually what I want fans or listeners to know, fans. Yeah, you don't have fans, but listeners to do. Just give us a review. That's that's the only thing that we I want.

SPEAKER_01 54:37

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 54:38

All right, okay.

SPEAKER_01 54:39

So on that note, yes.

SPEAKER_02 54:41

Until next time. Bye-bye.

SPEAKER_01 54:47

Because like Iba sang along with oh, who was it? Was it Stones? Who is he? He was on a show with somebody. I think it was Stones. Yeah, I th I thought it was the uh F F S uh uh whatever. So, you know, he sang with them, but I don't think they sang an R Shi song.