On April 16, Stray Kids announced their upcoming comeback in May with their new digital single, “Lose My Breath,” featuring American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth.
Stray Kids(스트레이 키즈)
Digital Single
"Lose My Breath (Feat. Charlie Puth)"🌊COMING SOON
2024.05.10 FRI 1PM (KST) | 0AM (ET)@charlieputh#StrayKids #스트레이키즈#LoseMyBreath Feat. #CharliePuth#StrayKidsComeback#YouMakeStrayKidsStay pic.twitter.com/0UTfjtqCR3
— Stray Kids (@Stray_Kids) April 16, 2024
Fans did not expect their idols to be paired for collaboration with a singer whom they call a ‘Zionist and rape apologist.’ Instead of rejoicing at the comeback of Stray Kids, many expressed their disappointment in this collaboration.
NEW MUSIC NEXT MONTH AT WHAT COST https://t.co/LHBlcJBMrP pic.twitter.com/U9H1sA9cgw
— chrïs ★⁵ (@skzgoIden) April 16, 2024
Out of all the western artists, you choose to collab with Charlie Puth ?! https://t.co/vQ4LuYyjMt pic.twitter.com/kTPWSwJy2E
— ⩜⃝lice ★⁵∞🫧 | GOLDEN HOUR (ia) ᰔᰔᩚ (@iiaamalicee) April 16, 2024
STAYs, or fans of Stray Kids, intended to boycott the partnership and wished there would be a version of “Lose My Breath” without Charlie Puth.
stay moots, remember to boycott the song with charlie puth when it comes out 🙏
— lu ☆ (@JOONTM) April 16, 2024
so if there’s a charlie puth collab i say we boycott that collab hopefully skz gives a version without him? idk 😭 but we are not supporting a grape apologist who’s a zionist bruh
— nino bang 💍 | 🍉 (@skzrunaway) April 16, 2024
One fan has created a thread on X (formerly Twitter) to try to explain why they should boycott the famous singer.
There has been a noticeable increase in public awareness on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, which began last year. The Gaza Ministry of Health has reported that at least 76,575 Palestinians have been injured as a result of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of Palestinian fatalities to 33,843. Still, a lot of people “stand with Israel.” Including Charlie Puth and his family, in which his sister posted a picture supporting Israel in her story.
oh this is what Charlie Puth’s sister posted btw. Very loud and clear. And Charlie Puth liked noah’s post. This? THIS is who y’all still defend? pic.twitter.com/AhKnVS0L54
— ﾞ (@puthmine) November 11, 2023
Charlie Puth liked posts and reshared stories on Instagram from several artists to have been tagged as ‘Zionists,’ such as Noah Schnapp, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Ben Platt.
https://twitter.com/loona_myluv/status/1780263554282573847
https://twitter.com/loona_myluv/status/1780263796503666836
Past receipts resurfaced as well about him, as people started accusing him of being a ‘rape apologist’ since he favored producer Dr. Luke over American pop sensation Ke$ha. The ‘Tik Tok’ and ‘Die Young’ singer had claimed that Dr. Luke had abused her “sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally” as far back as during the start of their professional relationship, but he refuted her claims.
https://twitter.com/loona_myluv/status/1780267158150291506
Additionally, his previous Facebook activity showed that he supported the oftentimes controversial politician and business, former US President President Donald Trump, who has also been charged with sexual assault and other offenses.
https://twitter.com/loona_myluv/status/1780267298202296825
Also, Puth mocked Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall and singer and actress Selena Gomez simply for refusing to have sex with him. He was first friendly with Gomez, with whom he even co-wrote the popular song “We Don’t Talk Anymore.”
https://twitter.com/loona_myluv/status/1780324021042561077
@ghostinedits.cc #selenagomez #charlieputh #attention #selenatiktok ♬ Attention – Charlie Puth
@michelletok Replying to @nikki_diaries91 #charlieputh has a history of making women uncomfortable #jadethrilwall and supporting #drluke during #kesha ♬ original sound – michelle | pop culture & ✨💄🍸
Nonetheless, the collaboration, and subsequent pull-up of digital receipts, have caused differing reactions from STAYs. Some fans intend to support Stray Kids’ most recent song, as fans speculate that Charlie Puth had already been paid for the collaboration, hence putting the pressure only on the K-pop group.
Some STAYs have grown weary of JYP Entertainment’s choices of collaborations for Stray Kids. Some still intend to boycott the upcoming single.
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