Kris Wu is INNOCENT! iTunes drama explained

[daisyj6]

Pt1

 

For those who don't do know; Kris was accused for manipulating the iTunes chart using bots.

 

I made a thread on Twt explaining the mess in a chronological order.

Adapted from that, I'm sharing the truth here. 

 

It's a long post but a "good" post to refer to when people bs.

But if you’re only up for some quick facts; the 3rd part is kinda TL;DR…

 

 

1. On November 2nd, Kris released his album “Antares†on iTunes.

 

 

Continue in the spoiler. Warning: very image heavy.

 

 

 

 

2. It quickly topped the US iTunes charts. Kris saw it and was delighted.

Some people think he was "bragging" with this tweet. 

 

 

 

 

3. Things escalated when this screenshot from a third-party iTunes sales website resurfaced.

14 million sales within 24 hours? cheats! bots! chart manipulation!

People went crazy. Even going as far as spewing racist remarks.

Meanwhile... In the distance you hear someone say that the site isn't reliable, as the data is based on unofficial statistical calculations. 

 

 

 

4. Ariana Grande’s manager took notice and tweeted about it. 

He shades and accuses Kris is using bots without any evidence…

 

 

 

5. The rumor spread like wildfire. News outlets caught on as well.

So, Kris’ Twt fan union releases a statement:

“Kris has fans all over the world… We are not bots."

 

6. Said manager then deleted the tweet and exclaims "I don't do negativity"

...even though many people have seen it already and screenshotted it.

Damage already done, rumors kept circulating. 

 

 

 

7. Kris has indeed many fans, but more in China than in the US. 

 

 

 

 

8. If not bots, then it must be his huge Chinese/overseas following using VPN to buy/stream his newest album. 

This was already speculated by most Kpop fans (no surprise). 

However, other people start to confuse bots with VPN.

The rumors about him using bots to manipulate charts were still rampant.

[daisyj6]

Pt2

 

9. Since the release of "Antares" on Nov. 2nd until the 5th of November 11:47PM EST the iTunes charts looked like this.

Kris' music was topping the charts. (kworb archive)

 

 

 

10. However, (less than) 24 hours later on Nov. 6th at 11:47PM EST;

His songs all fell from the charts.

 

.

 

 

Continue in the spoiler:

 

 

 

 

11. Many people believe that Kris got pulled off the charts because of the rumors.

Even going as far as believing he literally got removed from the charts.

 

 

 

12. Of course, many people be celebrating, "got what u deserved Kris WHO".

Including Ariana Grande.

 

 

 

13. On the Pro-Kris side, people are outraged and think Ariana’s manager has something to do with it.

They demand feedback.

Braun claims Kris' own label admitted the sales were false…

 

 

 

14. However, Universal Music's official statement says otherwise.

“The chart’s data results are true, legitimate and not taken offline.â€

 

 

 

 

 

 

15. Universal Music: "...our company will firmly take all legal measures against the malicious rumors until the end."

Ariana’s manager: Me and Kris? We are literally best buddies. Never ever did I accuse him of using bots nor that his sales were fake. Oh and HBD, bro. Haha.

 

 

 

[daisyj6]

Pt3

(TL;DR)

16. Braun's Instagram post confirms that indeed many fans from especially China mass bought his album on iTunes through VPN.
The reason is because Kris' album Chinese release (6 Nov.) is later than the US release (2 Nov.) and they just couldn't wait. This would also explain "Antares" sudden drop in the iTunes chart observed on 6 November.


17. Though, 14 million sales within 24 hours still seem unbelievable.
It must be a glitch or a malicious edit, because his other songs on that chart is only around 8K sales.

What's also suspicious is that this exact screenshot is seemingly the only one with the huge number circulating around...

Morerover, another third-party website (kworb) shows that the infamous 14 million-seller â€November Rain" sold 48K units as of today (8 November).



18. Then how did Kris get on top of the charts with "only" 48k sales?
I believe iTunes charting algorithm counts the amount of downloads/streams in a time interval. Between 2-6 November Kris was on top of the charts probably because of the huge influx of VPN-masked Chinese fans.

 

 

EDIT: reread this part. it sounds actually somewhat assumptive. Obviously, I'm still missing some receipts for this part to be 100% "true". Like screenshots of kworb iTunes sales on the day of the release... If y'all have something to add, please do.

[johnnyrose]

I’m not reading all this. Someone condense it for me.

[YuMing]

scooter braun is a joke lmfao

[Sesilex]

I’m not reading all this. Someone condense it for me.

https://www.clashmusic.com/news/kris-wu-is-ruffling-american-feathers-on-the-itunes-chart you can read this article.

[JoJo29]

of course he's innocent, his fans were the ones using vpn

[BBIIBBII]

Maybe he should've been more focused on Ariana's performance on Ellen so it wouldn't have been a disaster. 

[Meeks]

scooter's a fucking weirdo 

[Hormones]

So he's innocent and those are real sales for the tl;dr 

[YuMing]

I’m not reading all this. Someone condense it for me.

 

basically ari's manager accused kris of using bots

 

itunes looked into it and found that cfans had used vps (vpns aren't bots btw, it means the sales are real but they shouldn't have been counted on itunes chart)

 

btw kris had nothing to do with the vpns, it was the fans' choice (apparently it was a birthday project?? idk)

 

itunes removed the vpns, kris fell on the chart, universal music china issues statement saying that they'll take legal action for ppl who continue to attack kris

 

ari's manager starts acting all nice and pretends he wasn't one of the ppl to start everything in the first place

[Sesilex]

poor kris. he's the victim here.

 

edit: wow even in this situation, haters are still trying to find a reason to attack Kris. l'm speechless!

[jjxxyy]

Thank you for doing this op â¤

[Slowpoke X]

It's hilarious how scooter backtracked once he got threatened by the lawsuit

[Angel_Nessa]

Braun spreading fake news to people hate on Kris instead if investigating the reason, also assuming that a Chinese singer didn't have enough fans to have him on #1 US itunes charts... karma will come for you, man.

[AquaBlue]

Damn. Scooter has always been trashy and he didn't even apologize. He keeps telling people that he didn't tweet the accusation but literally everyone has proof that he did. How are C-netizens reacting to this mess?  

[HoneyPopCupcake]

scooter braun is a joke lmfao

[Nip&Hip]

Uh, so someone conveniently forgot to mention that the Chinese drop date and the US drop dates are different and that's what led people to using VPNs?? Lol

[1Q98]

does he not know himself that he is not popular enough to top US iTunes chart? it must be due to chinese vpn sales. the fact that he posted about his album topping the chart, further encourages his fans to bulk buy through vpn. kris's album songs  literally took over top 10, these kind of vpn bulk buy is too much, it's so unfair to other artists. didn't lay released a song recently too, and he got pretty good results on US iTunes due to his chinese fans, but at least his fans didn't go too much over with the bulk buy.

[Nip&Hip]

does he not know himself that he is not popular enough to top US iTunes chart? it must be due to chinese vpn sales. the fact that he posted about his album topping the chart, further encourages his fans to bulk buy through vpn. kris's album songs  literally took over top 10, these kind of vpn bulk buy is too much, it's so unfair to other artists. didn't lay released a song recently too, and he got pretty good results on US iTunes due to his chinese fans, but at least his fans didn't go too much over with the bulk buy.

1. Lay got good results because he has fans in the US and eslewhere, keep him out of this.

 

2. You missed the part about the Chinese and USA release dates being multiple days apart. The only way Chinese fans could've bought this album digitally was through VPN, it wasn't just bulk to boost him up the charts, they literally just wanted to buy the song / album whatever way.

[johnnyrose]

basically ari's manager accused kris of using bots

 

itunes looked into it and found that cfans had used vps (vpns aren't bots btw, it means the sales are real but they shouldn't have been counted on itunes chart)

 

btw kris had nothing to do with the vpns, it was the fans' choice (apparently it was a birthday project?? idk)

 

itunes removed the vpns, kris fell on the chart, universal music china issues statement saying that they'll take legal action for ppl who continue to attack kris

 

ari's manager starts acting all nice and pretends he wasn't one of the ppl to start everything in the first place

Oh lol. thanks lu.

[Mr.Skinny-penis]

Braun spreading fake news to people hate on Kris instead if investigating the reason, also assuming that a Chinese singer didn't have enough fans to have him on #1 US itunes charts... karma will come for you, man.

[Wendii]

Bots/Chinese vpn same difference... The fact is his sales were fraudulent as his fans manipulated a US chart!

 

They've BEEN doing it every release, hence the reason he never charts even after being number 1 on iTunes for ever a week. Same with most Chinese artist.. I can't believe y'all getting worked up over the word "bots"

 

Also that "lawsuit" would of never held up in court!

[PinkCake]

A genuine question: who is SINA and why Chinese fans were putting the blame on them?

[TENTASTIC]

To kind of sum it up: 

 

Scooter: Kris Wu uses bots

Universal: Repeat that

Scooter: Repeat what?

Universal: You said Kris Wu uses bots

Scooter: I never said that

Nets: We got you on tape

Scooter: Kris is my friend