On November 12, X users shared screenshots of a post allegedly from Vernon’s Mom , a member of Seventeen, discussing Seventeen’s role in supporting Hybe after BTS members enlisted in the military.
The post started by highlighting BTS’s success and their contribution to building Hybe, noting that this helped the company acquire Pledis, Seventeen’s agency. Later, Vernon’s Mom emphasized Seventeen’s role in maintaining Hybe’s financial stability during BTS’s hiatus for military service.
Vernon’s Mom confirmed that Seventeen was a successful investment for Hybe and acknowledged that the group knew they would lose some spotlight and attention after becoming part of a massive company like Hybe. However, the opportunities provided by Hybe made the deal worthwhile.
Vernon’s Mom shared this on her personal Facebook account:
“BTS built the company that was able to acquire Pledis, the company that formed Seventeen.
They wanted to compensate Seventeen for the inevitable loss of income when BTS members took breaks for military service, and the investment paid off. Seventeen generated steady profits for several years—a transitional period that helped Hybe expand and build new-generation groups that are performing well today.
Seventeen understood there would be trade-offs as a group having to share the spotlight within such a massive company, but ultimately, the capital represented by Hybe became a honey pot for Pledis, which retained management rights. This ultimately proved to be a model for Hybe’s acquisition of other popular groups and their agencies.
Seventeen itself focuses on music as a group with its distinct pop sound, while also supporting individual members’ productions without getting too caught up in the competitive side of the industry. This formula has proven successful as they continue to sell out stadiums across Asia while maintaining their humility as artists and gratitude toward the Carats who support them in any number worldwide.”
Although the post itself was not controversial, Vernon’s Mom previous posts resurfaced, including one that downplayed BTS’s contribution to K-pop’s global popularity compared to groups like Big Bang and PSY.
