From Suga's Drunk Driving Case to HYBE Dispute: 7 Major Controversies BTS Has Faced

BTS, the global sensation that took the music industry by storm, have encountered their fair share of controversies along the way.

BTS, the global sensation that took the music industry by storm, has enjoyed monumental success since its debut. However, like any other high-profile entity, they have encountered their fair share of controversies along the way. From cultural missteps to unexpected fan encounters, here are seven instances where BTS found themselves amid firestorms. 

BTS Suga drunk driving case

BTS rapper Suga got his licence revoked and fined for driving an electric vehicle while drunk, a move that has thrown the group into controversy. After the incident, Suga and BTS agency BigHit Music issued statements apologising for it. On July 6, Suga was riding an electric kickboard scooter after a dinner. He tripped and fell while parking it. When a police officer saw him, he gave him a breathalyser test, which he failed, costing him a fine and having his licence revoked.

RM’s Islamophobic scandal

RM shared a song called ‘Bad Religion’ on his Instagram Story. After the Wild Flower singer posted the screenshot, ‘RM apologise to Muslims’ started trending on X as the song was previously involved in a controversy. Frank Ocean’s song ‘Bad Decision’ was released in 2012, and the song is often subjected due to its reference to the Islamic phrase “Allahu Akbar." Fans expressed their disappointment for him having supported Ocean’s song, whereas several fans have defended as well. 

Jimin’s scandalous T-shirt reference

One incident that sent ripples through the fandom was when Jimin donned a seemingly innocuous t-shirt. Adorned with Korean independence slogans, the t-shirt stirred up a tempest due to its connection to Hiroshima bombing discussions. Japanese nationalists expressed their dissatisfaction, resulting in the cancellation of their appearances on a Japanese TV show. The uproar served as a reminder of the intricate web that international fame weaves. 

RM’s Racial Remark 

An interview in Australia turned into a racial firestorm for RM. His comment about his initial perception of fellow bandmates V and J-Hope sparked accusations of racism. The controversy escalated beyond online debates when, in 2015, death threats were directed at RM. These threats were purportedly linked to his interview statement. The consequences were dire, leading to the cancellation of their US tour, an unforeseen twist in their journey.

Backlash from Chinese Fans

In 2020, BTS's leader RM found himself at the heart of a controversy that transcended music and delved into diplomatic intricacies. During the Van Fleet Awards, RM gave a speech highlighting the band’s role in fostering Korea-USA relations. Unfortunately, this stance was not well-received by some Chinese fans who felt it disregarded the sacrifices of their soldiers during wartime. The aftermath was a digital uproar, with content related to BTS being pulled down from several websites.

The HYBE conflict

The ongoing conflict between HYBE, led by Bang Si-hyuk, and ADOR's CEO Min Hee-jin is growing bigger day by day. With accusations of embezzlement and takeovers forcefully, all kinds of blame have been thrown at each other. The controversy began when HYBE accused Min Hee-jin of embezzlement, and according to reports, she has even encouraged an employee to extract hundreds of millions of won. HYBE further accused that the employee kept on receiving payments from other advertisers but never intended to inform the company. The controversy escalated more when HYBE accused ADOR of supporting the embezzled. In this mud-slinging action, worldwide sensation BTS was dragged into this. The allegations were denied that Big Hit Music, HYBE’s subsidiary, had manipulated music charts in favour of BTS.

Kim Taehyung and McDonald’s bag of fries 

BTS V faced backlash on social media because of his latest Instagram post. On July 21, the singer shared throwback photos, including a snap of a bag of McDonald’s fries. While the picture was lighthearted, it has sparked controversy due to McDonald’s involvement in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS). The BDS movement emerged in response to Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, with McDonald’s being one of the brands targeted for its reported donations of free meals to the Israeli Army. Given the ongoing campaigns by a significant portion of BTS fans, known as ARMYs, against McDonald's, V's post has caused considerable disappointment and hurt within the community. 

(Sanya Bhattacharjee is a final year student currently studying at Bennett University, pursuing BA in Journalism and Mass Communication.)