What’s going on with BIGBANG?
On August 19th, as BIGBANG celebrated their 18th anniversary, former member T.O.P took unexpected actions that have left fans puzzled. While fans marked the occasion with celebratory messages, T.O.P seemed to distance himself further from his past with the group. He reportedly blocked fan accounts that tagged him in posts about BIGBANG’s anniversary. Even more surprising, T.O.P also blocked the Instagram accounts of his former bandmates G-Dragon and Taeyang, stirring a wave of discomfort among fans.
T.O.P, once known as BIGBANG’s “troublemaker,” has had a history of controversies. In 2007, he was criticized for wearing a Rising Sun flag outfit on TV, which led YG Entertainment’s CEO Yang Hyun Suk to apologize on his behalf. Over the years, T.O.P’s actions, such as littering cigarette butts and defacing Swings’ photo, also attracted negative attention.
>> BIGBANG Celebrates 18th Anniversary as a Trio: G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung
The most significant incident occurred in 2017 when T.O.P was serving as a conscripted police officer. He was caught smoking marijuana, leading to a police investigation, and during the probe, he was hospitalized for a drug overdose. Eventually, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence and was transferred from his police duties to serve as a social service worker. But even his time in service was marked by controversies, including showing up late for his first day and taking an excessive number of sick leaves. He even parked in a handicapped spot on his last day, escorted by bodyguards, which sparked further criticism.
After these incidents, T.O.P officially left BIGBANG and erased nearly all traces of his connection to the group. His profile now only lists his solo debut date, and any references to BIGBANG, including music and awards, have been removed.
Fans have expressed mixed feelings about T.O.P’s actions. Many believe that he owes much of his fame and success to his time in BIGBANG and that there’s no need to deny his past. Others feel that his recent behavior is disrespectful to the fans who have supported him for nearly two decades.
Meanwhile, T.O.P is set to appear in Netflix’s Squid Game Season 2, where, in an ironic twist, he will play a retired idol.
As T.O.P distances himself, G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung took to their personal social media accounts to thank fans for their continued support over the years.
>> T.O.P to Continue in ‘Squid Game 2’; Director Remains Tight-lipped on Casting Controversy
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