As far as dedication goes, A’TIN takes the crown, the sash, and probably the buffet table too when it comes to being invested in SB19. They live up to the name—always present, always involved, always ready to analyze SB19’s (including 1Z Entertainment) every blink.

But let’s be real: no fandom is perfect. I’m a massive SB19 fan, but I don’t exactly call myself A’TIN. Why? Because I don’t like labelling myself (but that’s beside the point) and from the outside looking in, I see some fandom habits that make me go: “Hmm… maybe I’ll just watch quietly from over here.”

So let’s laugh at ourselves a little, shall we?

I do believe that most A’TINs are mature enough to stay out of petty fights. But on social media, there are those who have made “defending SB19” their entire content and personality. Whole accounts exist just to reply to every negative comment. While this likely comes from admiration and a protective instinct, the truth is: it accomplishes nothing.

It doesn’t represent SB19 or A’TIN in the best light—it just adds fuel to the fire. SB19 themselves have always risen above negativity without saying much. SB19 already gave us Bazinga and Dungka! as the ultimate clapbacks. Use those like Pokémon cards and move on. Answering every troll only dignifies them. The other fandom started the war? Well, you have the power to end it. Get a life, choose your battles – not all battles are worth fighting for. 

At first, shipping was fun and lighthearted—edits like Stelljun/PabStell or KenTELL gave fans kilig. It was entertaining, harmless, and sometimes even heartwarming. But somewhere along the way, it crossed the line into toxic. What bothers me are the edits taken completely out of context just to fit a delulu narrative.

A clip of Pablo and Stell joking around? That’s genuine friendship and makes my heart warm. Ken calling Stell “the sunshine behind dark clouds”? Beautiful. Josh being an affectionate kuya to Justin while Justin roasts him for his age or height? Hilarious and wholesome.

What’s not amazing? Two-second clips getting stretched into a full-blown BL-drama plot.

Let me give you an example, during the Hong Kong SAW tour, KenTin shippers circulated a clip of Justin and Ken standing side by side, smiling and talking. Narrative: “They have their own world. Ken looks at Jah differently. They only see each other. They are soulmates!” Boom—instant BL drama.

Then came the Kentell edit, just a few seconds later: Ken moves across the stage to stand next to Stell. Narrative: “Ken has to be with his meowoo. He wants to hold Stell’s hand when they take the bow. They belong together. Always.”

Different scene, different ship, same formula—another full-blown delulu BL drama unlocked.

But if you actually watch the full video, reality looks a lot less like a Wattpad fanfic. All five members were smiling, laughing, and thanking fans. Ken and Justin just happened to be beside each other—no secret coded message there. As for Ken moving across the line? He’d taken a marker from a fan during autograph signing and probably just went over to return it. Nothing more, nothing less.

These are normal, everyday interactions that get clipped, edited, and magnified into something they’re not—all to fit a narrative. Editing moments out of context to “prove” relationships is like cutting a Marvel movie into ten TikToks and declaring Iron Man is secretly Thor’s boyfriend. Funny? To some. True? Absolutely not.

And here’s the sad part: from what I’ve observed (and yes, this is an assumption), the members have toned down their natural interactions because of it. Where we once saw wholesome hugs, hand-holding, and spontaneous “I love yous,” now we get a colder, more restrained SB19. They know how intense the shipping can get, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they decided as a group to be more careful on camera. That’s why the hearts and flowers we used to see in TikTok lives have basically disappeared, and why hugs or affectionate moments are rare and far between now.

Why? Because the fandom made it weird.

So yes—toxic shipping ruined cuddly SB19 for all of us. Thanks for that.

Here’s one of my favorite sweet SB19 posts – a reminder of more carefree times. Shippers could edit them into micro moments of  KenTell, Pabstell, JoshTell “bromance” and some people will enjoy it, but I prefer the whole video because it shows the crazy, naughty, unedited SB19 that we all love. 

Not many but I’ve heard about long-term A’TINs who like to  flex how they have been with SB19 from the beginning and like to consider themselves the real fans and consider the new A’TINs casuals who are here now because the group had became famous.

Reality check: both veteran and new fans matter. The early A’TIN carried SB19 when no one knew them, when they were performing in half-empty malls, and when “Go Up” barely got views. That loyalty is priceless and will always be the foundation of this fandom. But equally, new fans are the reason SB19 went from “underrated P-pop pioneers” to “global act.” You don’t fill arenas, win international awards, and dominate charts without growth.

Instead of gatekeeping, maybe take pride in the fact that the group you’ve supported since the beginning is finally getting the recognition they deserve. Every fan—whether they joined during “Go Up,” “What?,” “WYAT,” or “GENTO”—is part of the story. If SB19 themselves welcome new A’TIN with open arms, why should anyone else act like a bouncer at the fandom gate?

Veteran fans built the foundation. New fans built the skyscraper. Both are essential.

Some A’TINs take the “atin” (ours) part way too literally—getting overly involved in the members’ personal lives. They analyze every silence, every sideways glance, every sneeze.

Case in point: a clip of Stell and Pablo sitting quietly before what looked like a presscon in Singapore spiraled into a fandom meltdown. “Are they fighting? Is Stelljun/PabStell over? They’ve changed—we miss the old days! This hurts, I wanna cry!”

TRUTH IS, this was just two members sitting still for a moment. Pablo was next to Josh, and they weren’t chatting either. Same with Stell and Ken. Watching the full interview, you can see Pablo and Stell exchanging glances and interacting here and there. In fact, the whole group looked a bit more serious that day, which matched the tone of some of the questions being asked. If anything, they all just seemed tired and not interacting with each other much —understandable after nonstop rehearsals and touring.

Back to my point, sometimes friends just sit. In silence. No drama. No hidden meaning. Sometimes quiet simply equals comfort. They’ve been rehearsing together nonstop and touring for months—of course there will be moments where they sit in peace without talking. Maybe they are just tired or lost in their own thoughts. It happens.

They don’t owe us constant giggles. Sometimes silence is just… silence. The “honmon” will survive two minutes of quiet. Relax.

Even if they do have minor misunderstandings, that’s normal too. Friends fight over mists sometimes. Friends say no to hangouts. Friends get busy and forget to text back. It doesn’t mean the friendship is doomed.

SB19 are human, and they don’t owe us constant explanations or performative closeness. Pablo has said it best: before everything else, they are friends. And friends figure things out. So let them breathe. Give them space to just be human.

This one really frustrates me. The members have often described Stell as the sunshine, the happy pill of the group and it’s easy to see why. But not everyone appreciates that. Some fans have accused him of “stealing attention” for taking the lead most of the time during events and Show Breaks. What people do not seem to understand is that, the members themselves need Stell to be that person for the group because he is naturally good at it and they are proud to be represented by the witty and humurous Stell.

On the other side of the coin, the fandom has become so used to sunshine Stell and expects it all the time. When Stell is being quiet, people claim he has changed and worse, he is having a beef with someone else.

But Stell is human. He has off days. Maybe he wasn’t feeling well while filming that episode of Show Break. Or maybe a three-minute clip (taken from a two-hour concert) of him not talking much doesn’t paint the whole picture.

Fans easily forgive Pablo, Josh, or Justin when they’re quiet, because “they’re introverts.” They celebrate when Ken is being cheerful, and forgive the fact that 80% of the time, he has his hoodie and/or cap on, looks like he was forced to be there, and just want to fade into the background.

But when Stell isn’t bouncing, suddenly it’s a problem?

Stell is not the fandom’s clown. He deserves the same respect and grace we give the others. Even sunshine has cloudy days—so let him be human.

Stell is not the fandom’s clown. He deserves the same respect and grace we give the others. Even sunshine has cloudy days—so let him be human.

Bias culture? Normal. Bias-wreckers? Also normal. But bias-wrecking to the point of hating the other members? Dungka!

I wasn’t sure about including this one because some A’TINs don’t even consider OT1s as real A’TINs. If that’s the case, then why call themselves OT1s at all? Why not just say they’re fans of the artist (solo)?

From the looks of it, many of them want to elevate their chosen bias within the SB19 context. The negativity comes from comparing how members are perceived to be treated or highlighted in group activities. It’s not that these fans dislike SB19; they just want a version of the group where their bias gets more attention. But the truth is, if you ask the boys themselves, they’re happy and comfortable being part of SB19. They understand their roles in the group and trust each other to fulfill them. Do the OT1s want their bias to suddenly be the leader? More importantly—does he even want that? Do they want their bias to replace Stell as the spokesperson? And honestly—can their bias even do it? The hate doesn’t make sense.

Their solo careers allow them to explore their creativity and do things they can’t always do within the group,if you want to stan them as individuals, do it in their solo career context. If any of them think that SB19 is holding them back, they could have walked away. But they always go back to SB19.

SB19 isn’t just a stepping stone, it’s their home—a place of safety, comfort, and strength that they will always prioritize above all else. Group > solo, that’s coming from the members themselves. 

One of the best things about SB19 is how they treat each other as true equals. They respect and value each other’s talents and contributions. They take turns opening songs and sharing choruses, with every choice made to highlight each member’s strengths. The lines aren’t always perfectly divided, but they understand the power of restraint—like Ken’s parts in Time. Because he isn’t heard much throughout the song, the moment his voice comes in, the impact is unforgettable.

As Pablo has said, none of them would be here without SB19. Yes, we can love their solo projects and stan one more than the others, but let’s not forget: they’re stronger together. We love Felip because we first knew Ken, we fully appreciate Pablo’s genius because the others had brought his songs to life, Stell found confidence through the group, and Josh and Justin chose music because of SB19.

Support your bias, but remember— if you hurt one of them, you are hurting all five of them – because they are not just a P-Pop group – they are friends, brothers who have always felt and shared each other’s pain.

PHOTO: MEGA ASIA

A’TIN is incredible—your love and support are the reason SB19 has reached these heights. But sometimes that love spirals into… well, full-blown BL-drama energy.

As for toxic fandom wars, STOP. Take a breath, close the app, and just enjoy the music. SB19 has already proven they can rise above the noise; maybe it’s time A’TIN learned how to do the same.

Have the members changed? Are they not that close anymore? Personally, I think they’re as close as ever—off camera. You don’t throw away a bond like that. Their podcasts and Show Break give us glimpses of it (minus the hugs and hand-holding… well, less of it). But they’ve had to adjust—for the fandom’s sake. Because we, the delulus, apparently can’t handle a few seconds of natural closeness without spinning it into a 16-episode BL arc. Maybe the boys are just protecting our fragile hearts (and collective sanity).

At the end of the day, we love them because they’re genuine and human. And if Queen taught us anything, it’s that too much love will kill you—or at least kill the fun. So let’s not smother SB19 with our over-analysis. Let’s just let them breathe, live, and be themselves. No scripts, no overthinking, no constant surveillance, no assumptions, no judgments, no edits, no delulu agenda. Just SB19, being SB19.

So let’s not smother SB19 with our over-analysis. Let’s just let them breathe, live, and be themselves. No scripts, no overthinking, no constant surveillance, no assumptions, no judgments, no edits, no delulu agenda. Just SB19, being SB19.