Crazy: For Jonghyun

Crazy: For Jonghyun is a canceled, one-act play that was set to be performed by New York City-based theater company, Emerging Artists Theatre, in April of 2022. Its existence generated notable backlash fans over its inappropriate and insensitive use of the passing of Kim Jonghyun, member of kpop group SHINee, in December of 2017. 
== The Play's Contents ==
Crazy: For Jonghyun was a short play scheduled to be performed by the troupe Emerging Artists Theatre at the TADA! Theater on 6 April 2022 at 7pm as part of their New Work Series.https://web.archive.org/web/20220401212729/https://www.emergingartiststheatre.org/new_works_series/crazy-for-jonghyun/ It was written by Susan W. Chamberlin, produced by Eliza Cass, and directed by Graydon Gund. The run time was either 13https://x.com/EATheatreNYC/status/1510238254255194124 or 15 minutes depending on the source. Tickets cost $20.https://ineedtorant.quora.com/Um-what-the-heck-is-this-The-disrespect-to-jonghyun-is-not-okay-Incase-anyone-wants-to-know-I-am-just-going-to-give-a
The title of the play might be a homage to Jonghyun's song "Crazy (Guilty Pleasure) (feat. Iron)" released as part of his debut mini-album, Base, in 2015.This is pure speculation on behalf of user EllieElls99 who was active in SHINee fandom at the time of this controversy. 
The description of the play was given as follows:
It is unclear exactly when the play was announced. The first capture on the WayBack Machine dates to April 1st. By April 3rd, the page had been taken down.https://web.archive.org/web/20220403155603/https://www.emergingartiststheatre.org/new_works_series/crazy-for-jonghyun/
== Fan Response ==
It is unknown how SHINee fans, known as Shawols, became aware of the play's existence, but it had caught their attention by the evening/night of April 1st.https://x.com/eatheatrenyc/status/1510214579594399749?s=46&t=29cCL2vN4RVOZjzwtTBa4A Calls for mass spam campaigns through mediums such as e-mail were called for in response to the controversy.https://x.com/SHINeeProSquad/status/1510183110855782405 
Fans were specifically angered by the use of a real person's passing, which had only occurred five years prior, due to suicide as fodder for a "dark comedy" play without the knowledge and consent of his family. https://www.asianjunkie.com/2022/04/01/crazy-for-jonghyun-a-dark-comedy-short-play-about-suicide-understandably-draws-backlash-from-fans/ https://x.com/crabwol/status/1510153850455535616?s=46&t=29cCL2vN4RVOZjzwtTBa4A https://x.com/TheBlackNoona82/status/1510005590852050944 Fans also criticized the troupe for profiting off of Jonghyun's death; however, due Emerging Artists Theatre's registration as a non-profit, they were not doing so-- at least financially. https://x.com/sooyarbie/status/1510273958381338625
During the backlash, it was reported that the troupe's social media team was blocking those who called out the scheduled play for being disrespectful and inappropriate.https://x.com/sooyarbie/status/1510122767127134210?s=46&t=29cCL2vN4RVOZjzwtTBa4A
== Cancellation ==
On the morning of 2 April 2022, the Emerging Artists Theatre reported that it was in discussion with the play's "creator/producer" regarding the backlash.
About an hour later, the account was updated again with the play's cancellation.
While some fans continued to call for an apology to Jonghyun's family,https://x.com/sooyarbie/status/1510273958381338625 none was ever given and the controversy died down rather quickly. 
In response to these discussions, Twitter user @aquariancity provided some context for how a play like this might have been greenlit.https://x.com/aquariancity/status/1510264449516646402?s=46&t=29cCL2vN4RVOZjzwtTBa4AThe contents of the play have never surfaced and no further attempts to produce it have been known. 
== Status As a Fanwork ==
Generally, the play's potential status as a fanwork was not discussed at the time. At least one Twitter user likened the play to "real person fanfiction" in their denouncement of its contents.https://x.com/Aleash89/status/1510050063225180163 While not much is known about the individuals behind the play and if they were ever fans of SHINee or Jonghyun, the insensitivity regarding Jonghyun's passing that has often been portrayed by non-fans looking for a "gotcha" moment indicates that the play was most likely not created with genuine fannish intentions. 
== References ==
Category:SHINee
Category:2022 Plays & Skits