BINI standee theft sparks concern over fan obsession
The success of an artist often relies heavily on their fanbase, but some fans can cross the line.
This was recently evident with the P-pop idol girl group BINI, who faced an unexpected incident during their National BINI Day event on June 12 at One Ayala Mall.
BINI standee theft sparks concern over fan obsession
During the event, a standee of BINI member Sheena went missing. Videos and photos circulating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) show a woman taking the standee while riding an escalator. Although it’s unclear if the woman is a BLOOM, as BINI fans are known, she was seen wearing BINI accessories.
Lauren Dyogi, head of Star Magic and a key figure behind BINI’s success, addressed the incident on social media, expressing disappointment and urging for the standee’s return.
“Nabalitaan namin na, I hope hindi siya BLOOM, pero malamang at sa malamang, eh, BLOOM itong taong ‘to, dahil nandun sa BINI Hour, na medyo po tumangay sa isa nating standee. Ang sinasabi naman lagi ng BLOOMs, ‘Walo hanggang dulo.’ Pito na lang po sila,” Dyogi stated in a video posted on BINI’s official account.
He continued, “Unang una, nakakalungkot kasi to know that isang BLOOM ang puwedeng gumawa nito. Hindi maganda ‘yung magkukuha ka ng bagay na hindi sa inyo. At the same time, very important ito sa amin. Not only figuratively because kailangan kumpleto sila, but because it happened on the anniversary day of BINI.”
Dyogi emphasized the importance of all eight standees for BINI’s upcoming events, including their sold-out three-night concert at the New Frontier Theater on June 28, 29, and 30.
Standees hold significant value in fan events, particularly in idol meetings and concerts in Thai, Korean, and K-pop cultures, where fans often pay extra or hold VIP tickets to take photos with them.
In response to the theft, Dyogi launched a campaign called ‘Finding Sheena,’ offering a reward for the standee’s return.
“Ngayon po, naglulunsad kami ng isang magandang kampanya, ‘Finding Sheena’. So, tulungan niyo po kami, magbigay po ng impormasyon o sino po makakapagbalik sa atin ng standee ni Sheena,” he appealed. “Kailangan po hindi kayo ‘yung kumuha nun ha, so humihingi po ako ng tulong sa iba pong BLOOMs natin na may alam, puwede magturo, puwede magdala pabalik dito sa ABS-CBN ni Sheena. Kung meron kayong information gamitin lang po ‘yung hashtag na #SheenahanaphanapKita.”
BINI’s immense popularity, especially on Spotify, has catapulted them to the top, making them the number one Filipino music artist on the platform.
In a rare acknowledgment, ABS-CBN Corporation’s CEO Carlo Katigbak praised BINI’s phenomenal success at the company’s annual stockholders meeting. Typically, these meetings focus on programs and films, not individual artists, so this recognition surprised many and delighted BLOOMs.