BTS member RM aka Kim Namjoon has been asked to apologise to Muslims for recommending Frank Ocean's song Bad Religion
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.
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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.
"you guys have changed" thats what he said a few months ago. i mean WHAT IF it was you who changed NOT us.
— 주드🍓🌶️ (@wooeez_) August 16, 2023
what love were you talking abt?
this is very disgusting. so disappointing. #NAMJOON_APOLOGISE_TO_MUSLIMS #نامجون_يسيء_للاسلام pic.twitter.com/umG79Kt8il
There’s no excuse for such disgusting thing like this stop speaking on other ppls religion and acting it’s something normal when you are not Muslim Islamophobia is Islamophobia and it should never be normalized
— H☆ (@Euphxria97c) August 16, 2023
RM APOLOGISE TO MUSLIMS
وكل شخص راح يدافع عليه كل رْق من الحين
Some netizens even went to the extent of tearing up Namjoon's photos and stamping on them to show their hatred.
i did it 💪🏼🤯 #نامجون_يسيء_للاسلام #NAMJOON_APOLOGISE_TO_MUSLIMS pic.twitter.com/dmCG0hlcoK
— FARIS🎸 (@jungmocrav) August 17, 2023
The BTS member is yet to react to the backlash and has not removed the song from his Instagram stories yet.