An Enhypen x Bella Poarch collab is OTW (but some fans are skeptical)

Photos from Bella Poarch and Enhypen/Instagram

2023—at the very least—has been a wild year for Filipino artists looking to break into the global entertainment scene.

We’ve seen Fil-Am choreographer Brian Puspos dancing beside Jungkook of BTS, Fil-Am rapper Ez Mil signing under Dr. Dre and Eminem’s music label, all-Filipino boy group HORI7ON debuting in South Korea, Sophia Laforteza as one of the leading candidates in international survival show “The Debut: Dream Academy,” and an SB19 x JVKE collab (not to mention, a hell lot of K-pop idols dancing to “Gento”) to name a few.

But if we were to choose the biggest Filipino name in the K-pop realm this year, it would arguably be Bella Poarch—a.k.a. the only Filipino personality that made it to Forbes’ “Top Creators of 2023.” Case in point: Her upcoming feature on K-pop group Enhypen’s upcoming EP “Orange Blood.”

@enhypen GUESS WHO❓ #ENHYPEN #ORANGEBLOOD ♬ 오리지널 사운드 – enhypen

Bella Poarch’s back tattoo was a dead giveaway

On Nov. 5, Enhypen uploaded a track teaser on their TikTok as part of their comeback promotions. It showed snippets of the members and a woman’s back wearing pigtails, which could be anyone if not for the back tattoo that was unmistakably Poarch’s.

Engenes—Enhypen’s fans—quickly put two and two together, and the speculations were confirmed just hours later when Be:Lift Lab (Enhypen’s agency) posted the tracklist. The “Orange Blood” title track “Sweet Venom” has three versions: Korean, English, and one that features the Fil-Am content creator.

#ENHYPEN ORANGE BLOOD Tracklist#엔하이픈 #ORANGEBLOOD pic.twitter.com/Tz4VrDuEKb

— BELIFT LAB (@BELIFTLAB) November 5, 2023

Before this, Poarch has previously dropped a surprise TikTok dance collab with Aespa, watched Le Sserafim’s BlizzCon performance, was (allegedly) supposed to feature Rosé of Blackpink in her “Build a B*tch” remix, and has collaborated with Lauv—who has had a couple of K-pop collabs, too.

She also attended Enhypen’s “Fate” concert in New Jersey and considered herself an “Engene.” So, why exactly are some fans skeptical—others even dismayed—about this collaboration? Well, it involved an ink design, cultural sensitivity, and history.

Poarch’s controversial rising sun tattoo

Back in 2020, Poarch was thrust into a similar tattoo-related limelight—but for a different and more controversial reason. And for those who’ve missed that episode of internet history, she posted a TikTok video where her rising sun tattoo was prominently displayed.

It was a design that harkens back to Japan’s imperialist history, particularly during World War II when the nation occupied various Asian countries. The flag is seen by many as a symbol of Japanese aggression, and its display is considered offensive by South Koreans (and other Asians) who suffered during the occupation.

@bellapoarchSo I decided to make a dance for this sound & I’m not even good at dancing🤣♬ The Banjo Beat, Pt. 1 – Ricky Desktop

Poarch’s ink choice understandably rubbed many the wrong way. It became a major talking point on social media, a lightning rod for criticism, and even sparked racist remarks against Filipinos.

To her credit, Bella Poarch did issue an apology. She explained that she wasn’t fully aware of the flag’s historical connotations when she got the tattoo. She expressed remorse for any offense she may have caused and promised to educate herself about the symbols she chose to ink on her body.

Cut to 2023, it seems that the wariness hasn’t waned entirely. After all, the K-pop world is known for its passionate and, at times, unforgiving fanbase. Any misstep can lead to a wave of negative feedback, and these fans are protective of their idols and the industry they love.

Engenes are aware of this and are probably just worried about the potential backlash that the collab could bring. Nevertheless, we are still anticipating Enhypen’s new mini album, which is set to drop on Nov. 17.