Japanese-born British singer and actress Rina Sawayama is facing fierce backlash after posing with ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin.
This isn’t the first time Rina Sawayama has been affiliated with a K-Pop figure. In 2018, she shared a photo with BTS‘s RM after meeting the group at their show in London. She gushed about their performance, saying, “It makes me sooo proud to be Asian.”
In 2020, Rina teased a collab, “We’ve written virtually together, which is sort of a bit top secret. Maybe if you guys pester him enough,” she joked, “he will work on it or something.”
I don’t know man, they’re just so busy that I’m, like, whatever it’s cool that you’re even a fan.
— Rina Sawayama
In 2021, Rina responded to a fan’s question about this unreleased collaboration. She doesn’t remember what happened to it, but she would be open to working on a new song.
there is a song I wrote years ago but I don’t remember what happened to it 😬😬😬😬😬 but I would love to write a new one cos my songwriting is better now https://t.co/UmshWryH7P
— RINA SLAYWAYAMA (@rinasawayama) September 21, 2021
Last year, Rina proved she was a multi-fan at the Paris, France, stop of her Hold the Girl tour. She incorporated the NewJeans‘ “OMG” choreography in her performance of her own song “XS.”
rina sawayama doing the choreo of new jeans omg at her show in paris #RinaSawayama #NewJeans #OMG #NewJeans_OMG pic.twitter.com/rf81ySxiEh
— 𝓇𝒶𝓎𐦍 ~ ROCKSTAR🤘🏽 (@gwkloey) February 15, 2023
Additionally, in an interview, Rina chose “OMG” as the song living “rent-free in her mind.” She mentioned how hard it was to learn the choreography.
‘OMG’ by NewJeans. I’ve been trying to learn the dance in my bathroom, and it’s actually really hard.
It’s like a lot of hand, foot coordination. And I so nearly put it on TikTok, and I was like, ‘No, girl. It’s not good enough. You need to give more.’
— Rina Sawayama
[#UPDATE] British-Japanese artist Rina Sawayama says ‘OMG’ is a song that she listens to a lot recently! #NewJeans #뉴진스 @NewJeans_ADOR @rinasawayama pic.twitter.com/5IyVzj8sbU
— NewJeans Daily (@NewJeansDaily) February 11, 2023
Now, Rina Sawayama has proven to be a successful fan. She joined NewJeans’ Hyein for a performance of “Bad Friend” at the NewJeans Fan Meeting “Bunnies Camp 2024 Tokyo Dome.”
Rina Sawayama joins HYEIN to perform ‘Bad Friend’ at NewJeans’ Bunnies Camp. pic.twitter.com/mHADrCE1YX
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) June 27, 2024
NEVER KNEW I NEEDED HYEIN AND RINA SAWAYAMA’S VOICES TOGETHER pic.twitter.com/Y7MQGs0kMS
— hyeinster (@hyevuitton) June 27, 2024
HYEIN’S HIGH NOTE ?????? HER AND RINA’S VOICES COMPLEMENTING EACH OTHER SO GOOD ???? HER VOCAL TONE ???? IM OBSESSED !!!!pic.twitter.com/YAuMyl8qyq
— ☘︎ (@nwjnsbts) June 27, 2024
Much to fans’ excitement, Rina Sawayama also snapped a photo with all the members, doing the “OMG” pose.
Rina finally got to do OMG pose with the girls😭 pic.twitter.com/DR0pzwoxAC
— ☘︎ (@nwjnsbts) June 27, 2024
NewJeans with Rina Sawayama pic.twitter.com/HYL0xAR9Va
— NewJeans Loops 🐇 (@newjeans_loop) June 27, 2024
Yet, not all fans were happy. Rina Sawayama also posed with ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin (also known as NewJeans’ boss).
really stay disappointing us huh
— worst of rina sawayama (@rinascherry) June 27, 2024
rina…posted with mhj…oh nah pic.twitter.com/E5roK7EdV5
— ki 🍉🍓 (@yumyerim) June 27, 2024
Rina has long been an outspoken advocate against injustice. Previously, she had opened up about being groomed by her teacher.
I realized that really something that I thought was a relationship that I had, when I was 17, was actually I was groomed. Then why that realization happened in my 30s was because I was finally his age.
— Rina Sawayama
Throughout the ongoing war against Gaza, Rina Sawayama has been speaking out against the atrocities, sharing posts to raise awareness.
rina sawayama via instagram:
🔗: https://t.co/itbhgAyeVM pic.twitter.com/zLdSibNY1f
— worst of rina sawayama (@rinascherry) June 24, 2024
rina sawayama via instagram story:
🔗: https://t.co/rDLhjIcBRU pic.twitter.com/rCfwx66U3E
— worst of rina sawayama (@rinascherry) May 29, 2024
rina sawayama via instagram:
“there are 17,000 unaccompanied and separated children in gaza” pic.twitter.com/VKRGzFbSdm
— worst of rina sawayama (@rinascherry) April 18, 2024
Rina even called out The 1975‘s lead singer Matty Healy, although he is one of the label directors at Dirty Hit, to which she is signed. This low-key move risked her friendship with Charli XCX, who was dating Healy’s bandmate. She criticized Healy for his “racist, misogynistic, and generally offensive” words.
I wrote this next song because I was sick and tired of these micro-aggressions. So tonight, this goes out to a white man that watches Ghetto Gaggers and mocks Asian people on a podcast. He also owns my masters. I’ve had enough.
— Rina Sawayama
So, fans were disappointed by Rina’s “hypocrisy” as she posed with Min Hee Jin, who has a long history of controversies. Not only is she part of an ongoing feud with ADOR and BIGHIT MUSIC’s parent company, HYBE, but she has long been allegedly taking inspiration from “pedophilic” material and entertainment.
This movie is highly inappropriate due to the subject matter such as s3xual abuse , child neglect , drug abuse and physical violence.
— averii | stream armageddon 🫧 (@aenergiies) April 26, 2024
Ice cream cake had a lot of sexual innuendos and the song can be seen as having a double meaning. This is a problem since at the time Yeri was only 16. pic.twitter.com/WCKJhls7xl
— averii | stream armageddon 🫧 (@aenergiies) April 26, 2024
If you are confused Brooke Shields is an American actress who was sexualized by the American media and was in a playboy magazine at age 12. She was also in called pretty baby where she plays a 12 year old sex worker. pic.twitter.com/P3lOVsxcdz
— averii | stream armageddon 🫧 (@aenergiies) April 26, 2024
For this photoshoot as well she edited Jonghyun’s photos since he had a lot of muscle tone. The picture of Minho lying down, gazing at the camera, and drinking water from a bottle, caused quite a stir when it first emerged. pic.twitter.com/Lp10Kylo20
— averii | stream armageddon 🫧 (@aenergiies) April 26, 2024
Considering Min Hee Jin often works with young idols, many find this incredibly alarming. For Rina, who has also spoken about being groomed, it’s disturbing that she would compromise.
rina i respected you so much, but not as much anymore. mind you she blocked this fan because they replied to her story????? girl fuck mhj i know you’re not taking pics with her when she is consistently taking advantage of the girls and is mistreating them https://t.co/GEbAgLgsFN
— stereotype METAMORPHIC (@Ioonaassemble) June 27, 2024
Mhj is a pedophilic fatphobic misogynotic piece of shit. She’s not a good person at all and fck rina for being a hypocritical btch https://t.co/Zcey36SRAZ
— dntworry🇨🇩🇿🇦 (@KANA9371) June 27, 2024
Additionally, Rina collaborated with Paris Hilton on a new song, “I’m Free,” for Hilton’s second album, Infinite Icon. This was also seen as hypocritical, as Hilton is a known Zionist, yet Rina has been advocating for Gaza.
an artist being so vocal about being against zionism, racism & all forms of bigotry makes the FANS, who expect her to be against those things CAUSE SHE STATED IT HERSELF but then proceeds to hang out with said zionists & bigots, disappointed &… ur mad at US for expressing that? https://t.co/Io3OxlWGAm
— worst of rina sawayama (@rinascherry) June 27, 2024
mhj the pedo is one thing but collabing with paris hilton the slur slinging slasher, literal nazi supreme and zionist because ofc is another. and in the same month? quintuple homicide https://t.co/a0RpA53lkN pic.twitter.com/9nI9wUIqjY
— ⁷Bvtterrcupp Jimin Is My Muse🇵🇸 (@hoseokpilled) June 27, 2024
Known fan account best of rina sawayama sent Rina Sawayama a direct message, attempting to inform the singer-actress. The fan ended up blocked instead of heard.
my data wasn’t working properly so i checked if other people’s ig profiles loaded up fully and they did (as shown in the previous video) and then i thought oh maybe ill just check once im home with my wifi instead and now im home and her profile still isn’t showing up and its not pic.twitter.com/ckMYl6oT0L
— worst of rina sawayama (@rinascherry) June 27, 2024
showing up on any of my other ig accs which confirms she blocked me (as insta has this feature where u can block an acc & it automatically blocks all of their other accs too & that’s evident in this vid where i check from my other ig acc) pic.twitter.com/dYWmiKcvuc
— worst of rina sawayama (@rinascherry) June 27, 2024
Naturally, the fan was incredibly disappointed. The fan even changed the account name from “best of rina sawayama” to worst of rina sawayama.” The account will no longer share content related to Rina Sawayama.
i’ll be back with more important updates (song releases – not if it’s with shitty people – & anniversaries, maybe streams, + RS3) but for little things (like insta updates) or things where rina is doing dumb things that i cannot stand by, i will not be reporting on them anymore.
— worst of rina sawayama (@rinascherry) June 27, 2024
update.. i will no longer be posting ANY rina related content! https://t.co/pzWsPedFOI
— worst of rina sawayama (@rinascherry) June 27, 2024
This is not the only fan who has spoken up about allegedly being blocked by Rina Sawayama. Another fan attempted to message her, only to be blocked, much like the other.
I GOT BLOCKED. https://t.co/wRsAEMNxIM pic.twitter.com/e6BuJmkVDi
— may ☆ SAW MEGAN 6/23 (@365P4RTYGIRL) June 27, 2024
Rina Sawayama’s fans continue to call her out for these alleged problematic actions. Her recent post, featuring NewJeans, is filled with upset netizens.
losing fans after
Many fans are disappointed by Rina Sawayama’s actions, especially after she allegedly blocked some.
Rina allegedly blocking her fans over mhj😭 pic.twitter.com/1dhmVKHa4S
— so who driving the bus? (@joonshotline) June 27, 2024
rina posting about gaza 3 days and now posting a zionist and blocking fans who are calling her out is diabolical
— everlark daughter | suzanne collins worshipper (@galeslander) June 27, 2024
Can’t believe we’re kinda witnessing the downfall of rina sawayama pic.twitter.com/BzSE4CJhpA
— Reginaaaa (@RXGINA13) June 27, 2024
Rina Sawayama is losing many fans as a result, as she built her platform as an advocate who spoke against injustices only to compromise morals.
not to be dramatic but I’m heartbroken, I’ve looked up to rina for YEARS, she’s the ONLY artist I respected as a person bc she was so inspiring, idk if she hid her cards really well all this time or if this is a new development but I can’t believe this is really where she stands https://t.co/yr1jUpmAf6
— margaux 🦇 (@LUCIDNIGHTM4RE) June 27, 2024
i’ve been a massive fan of rina’s since i first heard STFU in 2020 and now i defo won’t be listening to her anymore!!!!! all her insta comments are full of people confronting her now deserved too!!! https://t.co/wHXsYCkAHi pic.twitter.com/LOLQtktAQ4
— richie (@aoushawkins) June 27, 2024
rina built up a fanbase of people who care about important issues and now she’s losing them because she’s showing she doesn’t care about said important issues anymore https://t.co/ECe0nL0IsL
— jaz (@hiierina) June 27, 2024
the worst part abt the rina thing is her BLOCKING her fans who care deeply about her and just wanna inform her of these people’s dodgy behaviour. it would’ve been bad enough for her to ignore it but to BLOCK fans?
— nini⁷ 𐙚🎧🐦🔥 (@lgbtaegi) June 27, 2024
Rina Sawayama has yet to make a statement.