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Home > Entertainment News > Korean Entertainment News > Article > BTS RM asked to apologise to Muslims for recommending Frank Oceans Islamophobic song

BTS: RM asked to apologise to Muslims for recommending Frank Ocean's 'Islamophobic' song

Updated on: 17 August,2023 11:55 AM IST  |  Seoul
Written by: Bohni Bandyopadhyay | bahni.bandyopadhyay@mid-day.com

BTS member RM aka Kim Namjoon has been asked to apologise to Muslims for recommending Frank Ocean's song Bad Religion

BTS: RM asked to apologise to Muslims for recommending Frank Ocean's 'Islamophobic' song

BTS leader RM is under fire for recommending Frank Ocean's song Bad Religion

BTS members are among the most sensitive and cautious pop stars globally, always taking care not to offend the sentiments of fans. So it took us by surprise when we spotted 'RM apologize to Muslims' trending on Twitter. What could the leader of the biggest K-pop group in the world have done for netizens to demand an apology? Here's what has happened.


RM, real name Kim Namjoon, often shares song recommendations on Instagram. Yesterday, the rapper shared a screenshot of Frank Ocean's song Bad Religion on his Instagram story, which has sparked outrage against the South Korean superstar.


Frank Ocean is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. The song Namjoon has shared is a track from Ocean's debut studio album, Channel Orange. 'Bad Religion' is about love, with this track depicting Ocean sharing his experience with an unrequited love with a taxi driver. Certain lyrics in the song have been criticised as Islamophobic by listeners. When the song was released, several lines from the chorus caught attention, inspiring debate over their meaning.


The song includes lines like:

'He said, "Allahu Akbar"
I told him, "Don't curse me"
"Bo Bo, you need prayer"
I guess it couldn't hurt me
If it brings me to my knees, it's a bad religion'

Many have found the song's lyrics problematic, leading to the current backlash RM is facing over sharing the song. Netizens demanded that RM apologize to his fans for sharing the song, while dedicated fans defended the artist.

Some netizens even went to the extent of tearing up Namjoon's photos and stamping on them to show their hatred.

The BTS member is yet to react to the backlash and has not removed the song from his Instagram stories yet.

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