If it’s okay, I’m going to reply to both of these due to their similarity. I think I kinda spat out a hot take without really expanding on it. Personally, I can honestly only speak for myself when I say that I believe that RM can be hypocritical. Namely in the way that he expresses the ‘love yourself’ message. Black fans in particular have never been accepted within the ARMY community, and it shows when non-black fans will say some of the most hurtful things and there is no repercussions for their actions. There is no acceptance of responsibility or apologies. Nothing.
I find it interesting that this same group used to be so into hip-hop and when they found that they could be popular without it they dropped it. It’s the classic ‘I love the culture, not the people’, and there is a large segment of ARMY that are black fans,yet the difficulties that they face within the fandom are never addressed. I am skeptical in how RM will say that their fans should ‘love themselves’ but he and BTS as a whole can’t love or even acknowledge a segment of their fandom.
I can understand that people feel really connected to the ‘love yourself’ message and it is a beautiful sentiment. However, it rings a bit hollow for me and I know I can be a bit cynical, but I can’t really get behind it. I know that I am addressing the whole of BTS, but I feel that if the ‘love yourself’ message is supported by all the members then why not address them all.
Please don’t think that I don’t like BTS, I enjoy their music and really like their performances, but it’s just the way that fandom works and their hand in it that I do not like.
-Admin Tes