Kris Wu had a big hit on Apple’s iTunes chart last week with his album ‘Antares’, but the Chinese artist swiftly fell foul of online rumourmongers suggesting that his sales success was in some way down to ‘bots’.
Ariana Grande’s manager Scooter Braun was involved in that debate, with a now-deleted tweet in which he appeared to question Wu’s sales. Since then, Universal Music China has issued a statement taking the rumours to task, publishing data showing that the iTunes data is “true, legitimate and not taken offline” (the latter in response to claims that Wu’s tracks had been removed from iTunes amid the controversy). Universal also threatened legal action against anyone who continued to cast aspersions on Wu’s success.
Braun has (wisely, given that threat) followed up with an Instagram post about his discussions with Wu. “It was explained to he and I last night that because his release was held back in China for his birthday his fans went and got the music any way they could and that was US iTunes,” he wrote. “Once the release in China took place the fans had their access. He has never been removed from the charts on iTunes. That is false. Those were real people from the US and international community and not bots like many have rumored.”
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