Local acts don’t have it easy and unless one finds fame overseas first like Stefanie Sun and JJ Lin, the vitriol for home-based singers can be brutal.
Indonesian-American R&B singer Bernard Dinata aka lullaboy, who is based in Singapore, is set to take the stage at K-pop music festival Waterbomb Singapore 2024 alongside local acts like singer-songwriter Haven and rapper ALPYH.
The event is headlined by K-pop acts GOT7’s BamBam and 2NE1’s Sandara Park.
However, an Instagram post from the festival organiser asking followers to throw out names they would like to see at the event received negative pushback on the inclusion of local acts.
“I’m so sorry, but no local artistes, please. I will die,” read an insensitive comment.
Another troll even took it on himself to represent a group of attendees saying, “On behalf of everyone, we DO NOT want local artistes.”
The hater even suggested Singaporean musicians can perform at National Day instead.
““No Glenn Yong, no Shigga Shay, no Benjamin [Kheng]!” wrote one netizen.
Another even targeted local actress and former Skarf member Tasha Low, writing: “Maybe they will get Tasha to sing the Oppa, Saranghae! theme song.”
The hateful commentary has caught the eye of 27-year-old llulaboy who took to TikTok to share some negative comments bemoaning the inclusion of homegrown talent.
“The truth hurts,” wrote lullaboy, who shared he was an intern at YG Entertainment in 2018. He also asked: “Is there even a point?”
The Singapore-based artiste’s carousel has accumulated more than 73K views, with many leaving encouraging comments asking lullaboy not to give up hope.
Some even went so far as to say they were buying tickets just to catch him on stage.
“People can be so mean!? Proud of you and your achievements,” said a netizen.
Since lullaboy’s post, fans have taken to responding to the highlighted comments asking them to take their hate elsewhere.
“No need to be so hateful even if you are not a supporter,” said a netizen.
“I thought they [Waterbomb Singapore] was asking for a wish list, not a hate list,” replied another online user.
Riding on the wave of support, lullaboy has since come out to assure his followers in another video that he “is unaffected”.
In what seems like a response to the uptick in negativity, Waterbomb Singapore posted a video of lullaboy on Wednesday (June 5) promoting the event.
8days.sg has reached out to Waterbomb Singapore for comment.
Waterbomb Singapore 2024 is touted as South Korea’s biggest water music festival. The event is slated to happen at Siloso Beach on August 24 and 25.