RM, apologize to Muslims: BTS leader faces backlash for alleged Islamophobia

Rapper and K-pop idol disappoints fans and triggers a public demand for apology

Kim Nam Joon, leader of the famous K-pop boy band BTS, has found himself in hot water after sharing a snap from his Spotify playlist that revealed he’s an avid listener to Frank Ocean’s song Bad Religion. The seemingly innocent Instagram Story post has erupted in major backlash for the South Korean musician, because the song contains offensive and Islamophobic lyrics.

Fans of the K-pop idol and other internet users took to Twitter to express their disappointment at the revelation, making the hashtag ‘RM, apologize to Muslims’ trend on the social media app. The general perception was that by callously sharing that he was listening to this controversial song, Kim Nam Joon—who is also professionally known as RM—was perpetuating the damaging narrative of Islamophobia that exists globally.

"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

— Lamia ෆ (@MarksLamia) August 16, 2023

 

The song in question, Bad Religion, was released in 2012 as part of Frank Ocean’s debut studio album titled Channel Orange. In the song, Ocean sings about being in love with someone who doesn’t love him back. The lyrics draw an analogy between unrequited love and religion, claiming that one-sided love brings one to their knees just like a ‘bad religion’ does.

RM APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS! He's literally a part of UNICEF he's their ambassador #RMAPOLOGIZETOMUSLIMS pic.twitter.com/uWzLO3N9Qy

— May 👾 (@9an1da) August 16, 2023

The words ‘If it brings me to my knees, it’s a bad religion. Oh, this unrequited love. To me, it’s nothing but a one-man cult,’ would be offensive to anyone who’s religious and holds strong opinions about the mention of religion in different mediums of entertainment. However, the lyrics that make this song particularly offensive to Muslims are the ones that mention an Arabic phrase that Muslims often use in praise or remembrance of God.

Ocean sings about sitting in a taxi and asking the taxi driver to be his ‘shrink for the hour’ as he tells him about his woes of a love not reciprocated. The singer uses the phrase ‘Allahu Akbar’ twice in the song, in a manner that many Muslims would consider inappropriate. He appears to use the praise, which translates to ‘Allah is the greatest’, in vain and in a way that suggests that Ocean thinks it’s a cursing phrase with the complete lyrics reading “He said ‘Allahu Akbar’; I told him ‘Don’t curse me’”.

He repeats these lyrics two times throughout the entire song. Although the song has been out for more than a decade now, it has only now sparked controversy.

RM of @bts_bighit you should apologize to muslims, u don't respect us as a Muslim, how can you do that while ARMY always support and respect you, but you don't !!!, so mad and disappointed. #RMapologizetoMuslims

— chococookie (@chocooooo19) August 17, 2023

While many members of the BTS Army are angry and hurt over RM’s reckless share, many are still inclined to give the UNICEF advocate the benefit of the doubt.