BTS ARMY or trolls? Story behind alleged harassment of BIGBANG's Taeyang on K-pop's global rise comment
Fanwars reignite as ARMY and VIPs clash over K-pop's global pioneers. Taeyang's comments spark debates on X, while fake Instagram accounts stir controversy. As BTS gears for a 2025 reunion, tensions among fandoms continue to rise.
Fanwars are not uncommon, especially in the K-pop world. However, over the past few months, since news broke about BTS members completing their military service and preparing to release music ahead of their highly anticipated OT7 reunion, it seems the hate directed at the seven men has only intensified.
The fandom called ARMY¡ªknown for their loyalty to BTS¡ªcelebrates every achievement of the group on the global stage with the phrase "BTS PAVED THE WAY." And indeed, the members¡ªJin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook¡ªhave opened doors for many K-pop groups to thrive internationally, with award shows even introducing dedicated K-pop categories. Yet, this statement by ARMY and various critics and even big K-pop idols as well seems to not sit well with fans of other groups, sparking ongoing debates.
What was the issue?
Recently, Taeyang from BIGBANG shared his thoughts on his group's role as a trailblazer boy band. In an interview with CNN, when asked about BIGBANG's contribution to K-pop's global rise, Taeyang said: "Thankfully, we were able to open doors to global markets for many K-pop bands that came after us. And they can perform on world stages. I wouldn't say we presented that, but it feels great that our efforts have played a part in that."
This statement led BIGBANG's fandom, VIPs, to agree, while ARMY did not, with many asserting that it was BTS who opened the doors to the Western market. As the debate raged on X (formerly Twitter), a different narrative began unfolding on Instagram.
What happened on Instagram?
Suddenly, comments like "BTS PAVED THE WAY" began appearing under Taeyang's Instagram photos. BIGBANG fans believed it was ARMYs mass commenting under his posts and took to X to call out the fandom. Several news websites also picked up the story, portraying ARMY in a negative light.
Were ARMY harassing Taeyang?
BTS fans were quick to clarify that the Instagram comments were not from legitimate ARMY accounts. They pointed out that many of the handles posting these comments were newly created accounts with no posts. Screenshots shared by ARMY revealed that some of these profiles even used other celebrities as profile pictures, something ARMY stated they would not do.
There like 1000 fakes account like this ? don't show your r@cism like this while stanning Asian artist https://t.co/689zfHwMjB pic.twitter.com/Jr7QAh5YBa
¡ª Ansh??bts year ? (@minpd69) January 4, 2025
After #Taeyang of #BigBang claimed his group "paved the way" for K-pop, it sparked controversy with #ARMY. While sites like #Billboard and #RollingStone say #BTS opened the doors, fake Instagram accounts are posting "BTS paved the way" in his comments! ? pic.twitter.com/qrTBBSEzVe
¡ª KPOP SHADOWS (@ShadowsOfKpop) January 4, 2025
Despite ARMY explaining their side, the growing hostility toward BTS and their fandom over the past few months has not helped their case. The situation has led to an uproar, with many K-pop fandoms seemingly uniting against the world¡¯s biggest group.
But your idols disagree with you https://t.co/lgxhyQEcmb pic.twitter.com/kXsOwByI3p
¡ª B?st? (@tanniesptw) January 5, 2025
Ijbol,just found out that even a producer for bgbng joined in on the accusations and went further to act as though he was getting hacked afterwards...in 2017...ijbol. what a pathetic,nasty spirited,twisted gathering of evil fr3aks that surround that unfortunate vglee grp pic.twitter.com/jVknWNHKJv
¡ª Nabi ??? ?? ??? ???? (@busanbreeeze) January 6, 2025
More about BTS and BIGBANG
Meanwhile, BIGBANG recently reunited unofficially during G-Dragon's performance at the 2024 MAMA Awards. Although the group originally debuted with five members, they now consist of only three¡ªG-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung. Seungri was removed following his Burning Sun scandal, and T.O.P departed to pursue a solo career.
As for BTS, their much-awaited reunion is set for 2025, and the global stage is eagerly anticipating their comeback. This excitement comes after the K-pop industry experienced a slight dip in sales in 2024, further highlighting BTS' impact.
For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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