Music

There wasn't any intention to insult a religion: BTS member RM on Islamophobic allegations

The popular K-Pop singer had come under fire for sharing a controversial song by Frank Ocean

Entertainment Desk August 31, 2023

BTS frontman RM, known as Kim Nam-joon, recently found himself facing severe allegations claiming the singer harboured Islamophobic sentiments. However, the band member took to Weverse on Wednesday to explain his stance, clarifying that he possessed no form of ill will towards any religion.

The rapper came under fire when he shared a song from Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange album called Bad Religion to his Instagram Stories. Many accused RM of being Islamophobic due to the perceived implications of the song’s lyrics and immediately had “#RMApologiseToMuslims” trending on social media. However, others believed these accusations to be untrue, emphasizing how the theme of the song itself explores the idea of unrequited love in the face of religious realities, pointing towards Ocean’s own struggles identifying as a queer person.

While Nam-joon had not spoken on the matter initially, he later took to the South Korean app as well as addressed the issue with his audience. The Hindustan Times reported the band member denied any such implication towards defaming another religion. “Okay, guys, I know what you’re talking about. You just keep telling me that I insulted a religion, but I didn’t,” the rapper denied.

He continued, “There wasn't any intention or purpose to insult a religion. I respect every belief and every religion; that’s all I can say. So please, don’t. I know what’s going on on my Instagram; I can see. But I never…there was no such purpose or [even] at least 1% of my heart of intention to insult a religion, okay? Guys, it’s a song, okay? I am not apologising, I am just saying.”

The Dynamite singer acknowledged that while all would not believe his statement, he wished for his fans to trust that he was, in fact, telling the truth: “Believe my words from me, [do] not just [keep] guessing, pretending and assuming, okay? I know I can’t; I know my limits. Even if I am telling my truth, I know I can’t convince and persuade every [person]…I understand what you are saying, but I just can’t lie to you. I am just being honest.”

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COMMENTS (1)

Jiyeon | 8 months ago | Reply Namjoon doesn t need to apologize. Antis will criticize everything and everything. Imagine waking up after sharing a song that you liked without knowing that there was anything wrong and then having the entire media after you. He had no I ll intentions and would never had listened to the song again let alone shared it if he knew that it could insult or harm anyone.

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