NCT 127‘s collaboration with the famous brand Puma came under scrutiny when fans demanded the termination of the group’s exclusive contract with the clothing brand.
The new campaign video was uploaded on social media and featured the NCT 127 members clad in winter apparel and shoes by the brand. When the brand posted the video, fans took to the comments section of the same, calling for a boycott of the German brand. They said they wouldn’t support a brand that had alleged relations with Israel.
[𝗣𝗨𝗠𝗔 𝗧𝗨𝗙𝗙 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 @NCTsmtown_127]
📌D-1
바로 내일, NCT 127과 함께 한
PUMA TUFF 캠페인이 공개됩니다💛#PUMA #PUMATUFF #NCT127#푸마 #푸마터프 #푸마패딩 pic.twitter.com/Si55YNhFy8— PUMA KOREA 푸마 코리아 (@pumakorea) October 26, 2023
Puma’s alleged violations
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement, a Palestinian-led movement that works for freedom, equality, and justice, says the brand violated international law and human rights. “Puma is the main sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA), which includes teams in Israel’s illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land. In addition, Puma’s current and past exclusive licensees in Israel have operations in illegal Israeli settlements,” they explained. “Israel’s military occupation expels Palestinian families, including children, from their homes to make way for these settlements. Israeli settlements are considered war crimes under international law.”
The BDS Movement further stated that other Palestinian clubs are against Puma and want them to end their deal with the IFA. “More than 200 Palestinian sports clubs have called on Puma to end the sponsorship deal and stop supporting Israel’s illegal land grabs. Puma markets itself as a company that cares about equality, yet it funds the apartheid the IFA helps sustain,” they continued.
@venetialamanna Learn more about boycotting #Puma and the other brands that are being targeted here: bdsmovement.net ACTIONS‼️ 1️⃣Sign the petition urging #PUMA to end its support for Isr43li aparte1d: bit.ly/PressurePuma 2️⃣e-mail #Puma directly to let them know you’re boycotting them: bdsmovement.net/boot-puma #boycottPuma #boycott #BDS #fashion #sustainablefashion
NCT 127 and SM remain silent
This angered several fans and they took to Twitter to urge SM Entertainment and NCT 127 to end their contract with the brand. They also called for a boycott of the company, calling the brand “disgusting.”
Meanwhile, netizens also observed that the brand deleted the replies from fans who asked them to terminate their contract with the group. The brand also posted some pictures featuring the group even after receiving backlash online, which further infuriated netizens. Puma, SM Entertainment, and NCT 127 are yet to comment on this issue. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: The brand’s clothes do look really good on the boys, but for some fans, that doesn’t matter anymore. Source: X/@pumakorea.