The next day, the latest episode of "MusicFest Tonight" was trending online. The episode also swept the TV ratings against other shows broadcasting at the same time slot. Not only that, the episode's video recording posted online received a staggering number of views within a 24-hour period. Although it didn't break any records, it was still very impressive for a regular episode.
Everything was because of Iris Long.
First of all, nobody could deny that her two performances on the show were both outstanding. The people already expected that she would give an exceptional solo performance. She had established a track record of always delivering ever since her first comeback.
What nobody expected was her surprise performance with the Pandemonium rock band. People couldn't stop talking about it. They were all shocked and amazed at her skillful playing of the lead guitar. Other musicians were now paying closer attention to Iris because they wanted to know how skilled she really was in playing the piano, the guitar and other instruments.
So Iris could also do rock. What else could she do? Were there things in music that she could NOT do?
These questions swirled in people's minds. Many were already starting to believe that she must be some kind of a musical genius. That was why they felt so puzzled by her choices of trashy songs during her teenage years.
Why did she allow herself to sing those kind of songs when she was actually so brilliant? Was it because she was going through a rebellious period that time?
And the second reason why last night's episode of "MusicFest Tonight" trended so much was because of Iris' shocking confession that she was engaged. Not only was it trending online, it also became the headlines on TV and newspapers.
"Iris Long is Engaged!"
"Who is Iris Long's Mysterious Fiancé?"
Leading the poll was Jin Chonglin. Second was Eros. Third, Enrique Valdez. Fourth, Maestro Ludovico De Luca—if he would divorce his beloved wife. Fifth and onward were the other members of Pandemonium. Even further down the list were other male idols, models and actors.
The poll completely ignored Iris' statement saying that her fiancé didn't work in showbiz.
Most of the Black Stars and even Pandemonium fans were supportive of Iris' engagement. They congratulated her and begged for her to reveal her fiancé's identity soon, or even just give some hints so that they could figure it out for themselves.
Unfortunately, there were also some who didn't like the fact the she got engaged. They expressed their dismay and the feeling of betrayal online.
"I can't bear this! I spent so much money buying the digital and hard copies of all her albums, merchandise, and the travel expenses just to watch her guesting and live performances. She's just an idol who depends on us fans for her livelihood! How dare she publicly announce that she's engaged?!"
"It's us fans who got her where she is today! She's nothing without us! We spent so much money on her and now she's going to use our money to pay for her wedding? Unacceptable!"
"She's a product and we fans are customers. I don't want to spend my money anymore on a product that I find unsatisfactory."
"She doesn't care about us. No gratitude at all. She doesn't even know that she needs to be responsible for fans' expectations of her."
They posted photos and videos online of themselves burning Iris' images, albums and other merchandise.
CaptainBlackStar: "All of you are a**holes! How dare you call Boss Iris an idol! She's not an idol! She's a full-fledged musician! Learn the difference first, you morons! I even doubt that you were her fans to begin with. True fans will never turn their backs. Besides, I find your reasons for suddenly hating her utterly delusional and psychotic. So you think you own her just because you spent money? She sells music, not her body and soul! You're all twisted sons of b*tches! You don't own her and never will!"
LittlePhoenix: "Yeah! Although I'm still young and not an adult yet, I know that you're all sick in the head. Eat my slippers!"
iEatSlippers: "I disappear for some time and I come back to find traitors within our Black Stars and even in my beloved Slippers Army. Unforgivable! I'll whack all turncoats with my mighty slippers!"
LittlePhoenix: "Uwah! Welcome back, Big Brother!"
All the Black Stars, especially the Slippers Army, were delighted that iEatSlippers was finally back. Their blood boiled in anticipation for what would surely become a spectacular online battle.
iEatSlippers: "Listen up, all of you toxic vermin! Boss Iris is already wealthy even without your money! Go take your stinking money elsewhere! Boss doesn't need you! The Black Stars don't need you! And squeeze this in those pea-sized brains of yours that boss got to where she's now because of her own talent, abilities and hard work. Those who say otherwise are delusional ingrates who deserve some serious whacking! Come, Slippers Army! Prepare your mighty slippers and let's get whacking!"
"All hail our mighty slippers of justice!"
CaptainBlackStar: "Comrades, attack!"
MonkeyFace also appeared and directed the divisions to several online battlefields. The Pandemonium fans were dumbfounded by the might and organization of the Black Stars. Some of them already heard about the fan club's reputation on the web before, especially the notoriety of the Slippers Army who were some of the worst trolls on the internet. But of course, they only trolled when their Boss Iris was attacked in any way. This experience only pumped the Pandemonium fans and fought just as fiercely as the Black Stars against the anti-Iris Long haters.
"See? She can't show any evidence because there are none," a reporter recorded him saying. "I bet that she's just banking on the fact that Maestro De Luca will ignore her and therefore won't refute her claim of performing with him. She's a liar, that's what she is. I don't understand why people are following her, becoming her brain dead fans. I constantly worry about our youths today with bad role models like her."