Dispatch unveiled that SEVENTEEN had to take on KBS's unreasonable demand for the 2020 KBS Song Festival.
On Dec. 17, it was reported that SEVENTEEN visited a hair salon, which Golden Child's Jaehyun, who was later revealed to test positive for the coronavirus, also visited recently. To ensure the health and safety of the artists and staff, all members of SEVENTEEN and employees of Pledis Entertainment were tested for COVID-19. The boy band is also said to be self-quarantining as per health guidelines.
In addition, Pledis Entertainment decided to stop all of the group's activities to prevent a potential spread of COVID-19. However, KBS's mindset only focused on completing the preparations for the 2020 KBS Song Festival, and so they called in SEVENTEEN for the pre-recording of their performance for the music show on Dec. 18. Since S.Coups had not yet received his test results that day, only 12 members of the male act took part in the filming.
Dispatch summed up KBS's action with, "There was no time to wait for the singers to self-isolate. They called SEVENTEEN in to pre-record." In fact, photos of the boy group heading to KBS were uploaded online, and it appeared that many of the members were wearing slippers as if they had rushed to the venue.
Even though the members received negative results for the coronavirus, Dispatch revealed that they reached out to a health official to determine whether it was safe for them to still attend the pre-recording or not. The official answered, "Even if you have received a negative test result, it is better to remain quarantined." Despite this, SEVENTEEN still spent four hours waiting until KBS finally called them for filming their performance.
But then again, after all the boy band's trouble and no update on S.Coup's test result for COVID-19, Dispatch revealed that KBS canceled the band's appearance at the music festival altogether. And as expected, many fans were upset about the news and demand an apology from KBS with the hashtag "#KBSApologizeToSeventeen for treating the artists in such an unfortunate way.
Dispatch disclosed that NCT also went through the same experience. NCT underwent testing for COVID-19 as well on Dec. 17 after the group's makeup staff member crossed paths with Golden Child's Jaehyun at a hair salon. SM Entertainment also stated that day that NCT's pre-recording for the KBS Song Festival was canceled that day.
The following day, all NCT members tested negative for the coronavirus, and so they had to rush to KBS for the pre-recording of their performance for the music show. An insider unveiled, "It's reckless to carry out the event as scheduled just because idols tested negative since many staff members are involved in preparing for the show."
According to Dispatch, this is not the first time that KBS disregarded COVID-19 safety guidelines. A particular official claimed that KBS only allowed wearing a mask during the red carpet event and not during the main show.
In spite of fans calling attention regarding the issue, KBS and Pledis Entertainment have yet to release any statements.
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Written by Mhaliya Scott
