Fans trend "Protect Jackson Wang" as netizens debate over GOT7 Jackson Wang's controversial speech at his London concert

On January 13, 2023, during Jackson Wang's first solo concert, Magic Man World Tour, in London, a particular speech that the idol gave fired up many controversies online.

Though his speech lasted for about eight minutes, short clips and parts of it went viral, raising disputes regarding the misinterpretation it faced.

The essence of Jackson's speech was about him being an entertainer and about finding one's own standard, though he talked about several other things along the same lines. However, only a certain part of the video, where he spoke about China, is now making the rounds on the internet.

Many interpreted the speech as him supporting or reasoning with the Uyghur Muslim concentration camps in China. Though this was not the case, several netizens believed that Jackson was placing his country on a pedestal.

As they slammed Wang, many internet users came out in support of the idol, trending "Protect Jackson Wang" on Twitter.

Fans fight back against allegations aimed at Jackson Wang's speech in London

What part of the speech angered social media users?

Regardless of the speech being almost over 8 minutes long, attention was mostly concentrated on short clips and certain sentences that the idol uttered. What initially caught people's attention was the statement:

"This is Jackson Wang from China. I don't give a f*ck about everything else. This is my home, this is my home country."

Jackson then continued:

"There is so much f*cking media talking about bullsh*t, it's not like China. Media, f*ucking media, propaganda bullsh*t. If you travel to China one time, you'll feel like, 'Damn, this is a dope place.' I guarantee."

The idol added:

"I don’t know that game they’re trying to play. I don’t f*cking know. Hey, I’m just an artist, I’m an entertainer. I’m a citizen, I’m a person. I don’t know that sh*t, I don’t give a f*ck. I just want to say that there is a lot of filter about all these media things."

Several netizens interpreted this as Jackson saying that information about Xinjiang's concentration camps housing Uyghur Muslims in tortorous conditions is media propaganda against China and none of it is true.

"I don't see any problem with it": Twitterati extend support to Jackson Wang

Soon after snippets from the speech went viral, netizens began criticizing the artist. However, Wang's fans were quick to clear up the hate, and pointed out that it was a result of misinterpretation and lack of context.

Many highlighted that what the idol intended to communicate through his speech was the increase in Asian hate crimes after Covid-19, especially among those living in the United States and the United Kingdom. They clarified that he was in no way supporting or dismissing information about the concentration camps in China.

Fans trended the keywords "Protect Jackson Wang" as a means to turn the story into its actuality and help people understand the real intentions of the GOT7 member.

Ever since the drop of Covid-19, Asian hate crimes have spiked, according to reports from Jabez Lam of Hackney Chinese Community Services during his talks with the BBC.

Fans believe that what Wang was aiming to address was this very fact. Given that the concert was held in London, many speculated that the idol felt the need to address the ongoing issue. Wang has previously also shared tweets regarding the issue.

In the rest of his speech, Jackson Wang also touched upon other topics such as the importance of self-love. He also criticized the way society glorifies and idolizes celebrities.

The accompanied controversy of Jackson Wang's partnership termination with Adidas

Several netizens also tied up Wang's speech with his recent termination of the partnership with Adidas upon realizing that the fashion brand halted the use of Xinjiang cotton.

The cancelation statement of the brand partnership from Jackson Wang's agency read:

"The country's interest are above everything else, and the studio (his agency) and Mr. Jackson Wang are strictly against all malicious acts that defame and slander China."

Wang's contract termination came in light of Adidas stopping the use of Xinjiang cotton after reports of forced labor and discrimination against Xinjiang minorities. However, this was also rolled into the story of Jackson supposedly blindly supporting his country while ignoring the reality of its conditions.

More fans are now trying to clear up the air surrounding the viral Jackson Wang speech, saying that it was taken out of context.

About the author

Aishwarya is a pop culture writer who covers K-drama and K-pop at Sportskeeda. After completing her Bachelor's in English and Communication Skills, she sought a job that allowed her to explore her passion, and being a K-pop and K-drama reporter felt like the ideal fit. Aishwarya has 3 years of experience under her belt and previously took on several internships in the industry that further motivated her in choosing writing as a career.

Aishwarya believes in conducting extensive research and verifying facts with the help of reputable sources to produce accurate articles. She also spends a significant amount of time on Twitter to understand how netizens are reacting to the latest trends in the industry before crafting her content.

She admires SUGA from BTS for his dedication to his work and aspires to immerse herself into the things she loves, just like him. If she could go back in time, she would jump at the opportunity to be part of ""Reply 1988,"" a K-drama set in a time when neighborhood relationships were cherished and interpersonal connections were of utmost importance. Although she loves how technology has advanced, she would also love to experience living in an era before it was invented.

When Aishwarya's not writing and reading about the latest developments in the industry, she spends her time crocheting, sketching, cycling, reading Mangas, and cooking.

Know More

Edited by Upasya Bhowal