K-pop star and leader of the world renowned boy band BTS, Kim Nam Joon (aka RM) has come under fire for allegedly promoting Islamophobia.
The controversy emerged when RM shared a snapshot from his Spotify playlist featuring the song “Bad Religion” by Frank Ocean, which contains lyrics that have been deemed offensive to Muslims.
The hashtag #RMapologizetoMuslims has began trending on Twitter, while many members of the BTS Army are tearing down posters of the K-pop star in protest, expressing their disappointment over their idol’s disrespect towards the religion.
“Bad Religion,” a track from Frank Ocean’s 2012 debut album “Channel Orange,” explores themes of unrequited love and religion. The lyrics include a reference to the Islamic phrase “Allahu Akbar,” in a derogatory sense.
The manner in which the phrase is used in the song’s lyrics has been interpreted by some as inappropriate and offensive to Muslims.
Ocean’s lyrics include the lines “He said ‘Allahu Akbar’; I told him ‘Don’t curse me’,” which have sparked controversy for their use of the phrase in a context that some consider disrespectful. Despite the song’s release over a decade ago, it has recently come under scrutiny for its potential to offend religious sensitivities.
Members of the BTS Army, the fanbase devoted to the K-pop group, have voiced a range of reactions to RM’s post. While some are expressing their disappointment and hurt, others want to give the benefit of doubt to RM, given his past advocacy work for UNICEF and other causes.
"The fact that people who say "We respect all differences" listen to Islamophobic songs in their private lives is proof of how hypocritical idols are. #RMapologizetoMuslims https://t.co/IVwt0GMTbd
— Doyoung 🇹🇷 (@doyoungscity) August 16, 2023
One tweep pointed out that RM has always been an atheist, and this isn’t the first time he has disrespected religion, sharing a screenshot of his translated lyrics to “God Rap”.
He has always been a pathetic islamophobe and proudly projects it in his music. Stop justifying this u cant say he has changed he said this when he was a teenager bla bla, he has the same fuckin mindset he had all those years back and his story proves it #RMapologizetoMuslims pic.twitter.com/ua4PCKaX57
— INSAN🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@hopefullgz) August 17, 2023
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