Despite all the major happenings in Jakarta and throughout Indonesia this year, nothing dominated the race for clicks supremacy at Coconuts Jakarta quite like K-pop-related stories.
That, perhaps, comes as little surprise given the immense popularity of the entertainment genre in Indonesia. But in a dark and gloomy year it was evident that our readers turned to us for the lighthearted stories that kept us entertained and sane, which we were more than honored to deliver.
Without further ado, here are the 10 most popular Coconuts Jakarta stories in 2021, in ascending order:
Aprilio (formerly Aprilia) Manganang finally got the legal recognition for the gender he identifies as. It was quite a shock for a country so systemically discriminatory towards the LGBTQ+ community that it was the army that pushed for the recognition, with the cynics among us suspecting a politically-motivated move. But we’ll take any small step towards progress as a victory.
9: Indonesian celeb Vanessa Angel and husband killed in East Java highway accident
Indonesia mourned the deaths of actress Vanessa Angel and her husband, Febri “Bibi” Andriansyah, in November, when they were killed in a single-vehicle accident. The couple was known for their humility and warm smiles, and they leave behind a small child who survived the accident.
8: #ThankYouOJOL: Indonesians pay tribute to delivery drivers for bringing them the McDonald’s BTS Meal
Our first K-pop entry revolves around a special McDonald’s meal that got BTS stans around the world really worked up. Amid mobility restrictions in Indonesia at the time, delivery drivers were hailed as absolute heroes for braving long queues and the heat to appease ravenous ARMYs.
7: Tokopedia serving up a K-pop treat with BTS and BLACKPINK performances tonight
Through the combined powers of BTS and Blackpink, this otherwise run-of-the-mill preview for an online event became one of our most-read articles of the year. Du-du-du-du, as they say.
6: Indonesian beauty queen under fire for butchering Q&A at Miss Eco International pageant
What’s better than a scripted and shallow response to an equally shallow question at a beauty pageant? Why, a dumpster fire of a response, of course. This Indonesian contestant did the exact opposite of doing her country proud at Miss Eco International this year.
5: Indonesian Instaceleb Laura Anna passes away amid lawsuit against ex-boyfriend
Another heartbreaking news out of Indonesia’s entertainment industry, as influencer Laura Anna passed away earlier this month amid a widely publicized legal feud with her ex-boyfriend, Gaga Muhammad. Laura became paralyzed from a spinal cord injury she sustained in a car accident with Gaga in December 2019.
4: ‘Ghosting’ enters Indonesian vernacular thanks to Kaesang Pangarep’s high-profile breakup
We’re willing to bet that the search traffic for the term “ghosting” skyrocketed in March in Indonesia after President Jokowi’s son Kaesang Pangarep was accused of doing just that to his girlfriend. Since then, the word has become part of everyday speak in the country.
A globally viral video that inadvertently marked the start of Myanmar’s horrific military coup had a distinct Indonesian flavor. Th hit dangdut tune Ampun Bang Jago (Have Mercy, Bang Jago) by Tian Storm and Ever Slkr accompanied an aerobics instructor in Naypyidaw, who was unaware of what was going on behind her and the brutality that would ensue.
2: Indonesian OnlyFans stars The Connell Twins take aim at ‘fans’ who profited off their content
Indonesian Onlyfans stars The Connell Twins enjoyed a rise in popularity this year, but we absolutely understand their frustrations that they could’ve been doubly profitable had it not been for online pirates who spread their NSFW content for non-paying users.
1: Yellow rice seller struggling with fame amid comparisons with Korean actor Lee Min-ho
Do you see it? Perhaps from a certain angle? Whether you agree or not that this Indonesian yellow rice seller is Lee Min-ho’s doppelgänger, the comparisons made the former quite uncomfortable. Initially, at least — his recent social media activity suggests he’s enjoying the limelight, after all.
