In almost six years of being an army, I've never felt the way that I do now. The current situation is so saddening and dissappointing and the fact that some of you can't comprehend this is annoying the hell out of me. What baffels me the most is the fact that this is coming from the men who spoke at the UN twice. When RM apologised for the lyrics in War of Hormone he proved that they are capable of taking criticism and reflecting on their wrong doings, he set the standard and now you expect us to act as if this isn't the same man? Bts are not gods and they can make mistakes and this is exactly why they should be held accountable for them.
Some of the fans are making this all about how this will give an opportunity to haters and is gonna be bad for bts' name, are we supposed to sweep a matter this serious under the rug just 'cause it will be bad for them? What about how it is going to affect the majority of their female fans? Their are many artists that openly support that piece of shit and I condemn each one of them so why should bts be any different?
I am aware of the fact that the kpop industry had always been insensitive about crimes against women committed by male celebrities and I never would have imagined that I would get that reminder from the two people I admire so much. There was a time when I used to play Under the Influence on repeat but the moment I learnt about his history I stopped. No one was watching me and no one would have known but I still stopped because I am a woman first and foremost and nothing is worth sacrificing my morals and principles, not even bts.
I have always been proud of bts and they have meant so much to me. I genuinely believe that Hobi and Joon are good people as they have proved themselves to be countless times in the past and they are DEFINITELY not in the same league as Chris Brown, not even close. But, seeing them not only enjoy his music but show open support to him was hard. Also, their PR sucks ass because there's no way they are not aware of what's going on.
I am not sure how to feel about them anymore. If they refuse to even acknowledge this(which is exactly what's gonna happen, I'm afraid) then this will just prove that men are completely okay with consuming entertainment and pursuing their interests even when it comes at the expense of women facing abuse. That would be so disheartening to see. God, this is the worst day ever.
She woke slowly, the warmth of the blankets making her reluctant to open her eyes. For a few sleepy seconds, she forgot where she was. Then she felt the unfamiliar softness beneath her and caught the faint, unmistakable scent of Taehyung lingering around her.
Her eyes opened immediately.
She was in his bed.
A blush crept across her cheeks as memories of the previous night returned the broken glass, his arms around her, him carrying her here, and the way he had stubbornly stayed beside her.
She slowly turned her head.
Taehyung was already awake.
And he was looking at her.
Not casually.
Not the way he usually did.
His gaze was soft, almost unbearably tender, as though he had been watching her sleep for some time. The moment their eyes met, however, he looked away and reached for his phone as if he had been doing something incredibly important.
She smiled to herself.
That was Taehyung's way of caring.
He would never admit that he'd spent half the night making sure she was comfortable. He would simply look away whenever she caught him being soft.
"How is your foot?"
His voice was low, still slightly rough from sleep.
" It's Better now ."
"Does it hurt?" His voice laced with concern.
"Only a little."
His brows immediately furrowed.
He immediately reached for his phone again.
"Let me call the maids to help you with basic chores."
Before she could argue, he had already instructed the maids to help her get ready and bring her breakfast upstairs.
She sighed.
"Taehyung, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
He paused.
" Just because you can of take care of yourself That doesn't mean you have to do it alone, princess."
Her heart gave a strange little flutter and that nickname made blush rise at her cheeks.
By the time she was ready, breakfast had been arranged in his room. She assured him several times that she was fine, but Taehyung still looked unconvinced.
He had a meeting waiting for him.
He knew he had to leave.
Yet he stood near the door as though physically incapable of walking away.
Taehyung turned toward the maids, his expression immediately becoming cold again.
“Listen carefully. She is injured, and I don't want her walking around unnecessarily. Make sure she gets everything she needs. If she says she needs something, you get it for her immediately.”
The maids nodded nervously. “Yes, sir.”
His gaze hardened.
“And if I find out that she was left unattended, that she was made to walk when she shouldn't have, or that her injury got worse because someone wasn't paying attention…”
He paused, his voice dropping dangerously low.
“You'll answer to me. And you already know you don't want that.”
The maids went pale.
"Taehyung!" She immediately stopped him.
He stopped.
She gave him a pointed look.
"Please don't threaten them."
His expression remained serious.
"I wasn't threatening them."
"You were!"
The maids stood perfectly still.
She sighed.
"They've been taking very good care of me. You don't have to frighten them every time you leave."
Taehyung glanced at the maids.
For a moment, he looked almost confused.
Then he cleared his throat.
"Just... please take care of her."
The maids looked stunned as if something has possessed him.
They immediately nodded.
"Of course, sir."
She smiled.
Taehyung looked at her, and something in his expression softened.
He stepped closer.
"Take care of yourself."
She nodded.
"I will."
His fingers lifted almost unconsciously and he gently brushed them over her cheek.
The touch was so tender that she forgot how to breathe.
"Promise?" His looked concerned.
Her heart skipped.
She could only nod.
Taehyung seemed to realize what he'd done a second too late. His thumb lingered against her cheek before he finally pulled his hand away.
"Good."
And then he left.
She remained standing there.
Completely still.
Her fingers slowly rose to the place where his hand had been.
What was happening to her?
Six months ago, she had been terrified of this man.
Now one gentle touch from him could make her heart race.
And what was worse?
She was beginning to like it. She gulped.
Taehyung's concern didn't end when he left the mansion.
Not even close.
By ten in the morning, her phone rang.
"How's your foot?"
She smiled.
"Fine."
"Did you eat?"
"Yes."
"Did you take the medicine?"
"Yes."
"Are you resting?"
She laughed.
"Taehyung, I am not dying."
There was silence on the other end.
"Good, Take care, Princess."
The call ended.
She stared at her phone as she blushed.
Four hours later, it rang again.
"Do you need anything?"
"No."
Another pause.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes i am fine "
"All right."
Then another in the afternoon.
By the fourth call, she was laughing before she even answered.
"What now?"
"Nothing."
"Then why are you calling?"
"I wanted to check."
She smiled.
"You've already checked three times."
He bit his lip embarrassed.
Then she heard Jimin's voice somewhere in the background.
"I told you that you will annoy her this way , she called you annoying , didn't she?"
Her laughter immediately grew louder.
Jimin's voice came through again.
"He's been checking his phone every ten minutes all day. I'm beginning to think I'm his secretary."
"Jimin!" Taehyung's voice sounded dangerously close to the phone.
"I'm going." Jimin speaks
She heard hurried footsteps.
Then silence.
A second later, Taehyung spoke again.
"Don't listen to him."
She smiled.
"You're cute when you're worried."
There was a long pause.
She suddenly realized what she'd said.
Her cheeks warmed.
On the other end, Taehyung went completely still as his heart fluttered.
Then, very quietly-
"Get some rest."
The call ended.
She stared at the phone, her face burning.
Meanwhile, somewhere across the city, Taehyung sat behind his desk with the faintest smile on his face.
Jimin, standing nearby, noticed immediately.
He stared at his boss.
Then at the phone.
Then back at Taehyung.
"Oh, you're finished."
Taehyung looked up.
"What?"
Jimin shook his head solemnly.
"Nothing."
He smiled.
"Our terrifying mafia king has officially become a husband."
Taehyung's expression hardened.
"Leave."
Jimin laughed.
"See? Still terrifying."
But the moment Jimin turned away, Taehyung glanced at his phone again.
Just in case she called.
------------
Later that evening Jimin came to keep a check on her himself to see if his friend is doing well.
Taehyung told Jimin to be with her till he arrives and give her company. So he sat on one of the couch in her room pretending to read a book but soon stretched lazily across one of the sofas with a book covering his face.
“Jimin! Are you reading?”
“No.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Practicing the art of looking busy while doing absolutely nothing.”
She laughed . “Does Taehyung know you're wasting company time?”
Jimin immediately sat upright. “Madam, please. I am a very hardworking man.”
“You were sleeping.”
“I was thinking with my eyes closed.”
She shook her head. “You and Taehyung are both impossible.”
“Excuse me, don't put me in the same category as him.”
Jimin huffed as she smiled.
" So what i mean to say is you look really tired, there is no need to sit here, I am okay, why don't you take just go home and have rest."
" I can't ,your husband will kill me."
"He won't, I'll handle him. Just go and have rest."
Jimin grinned triumphantly. “See? This is why you're my favorite person in this house.”
A deep voice suddenly came from behind them.
“Interesting.”
Both of them froze.
Jimin slowly turned around.
Taehyung stood there, hands in his pockets, staring at him.
Jimin pointed at her immediately.
“She made me say it.”
“I did not!” She counters playfully
Taehyung's lips twitched.
“Keep talking, Jimin.”
Jimin stood up.
“Actually, I just remembered my shift is over so yeah goodbye guys.”
And he disappeared down the staircase before Taehyung could say another word.
She covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Taehyung looked at her.
“He's funny.” She speaks
“He's annoying.” he retorts
“He makes me laugh.” She counters
Taehyung sighed.
Then, very quietly, “Apparently that's enough to keep him alive.”
She blushed as her heart skipped a beat
And for once, Taehyung didn't even pretend to be annoyed.
-------
A few days later, she finally convinced Taehyung that her foot was completely fine.
“I can walk see.” She walks few steps.
“ and now i am completely capable to go outside.”
His eyes narrowed.
She gave him her best pleading look.
“I can even survive a party .”
Taehyung sighed.
She knew that sigh.
She was winning.
“Jimin said there will be amazing food.”
“And dessert.”
Another sigh.
She smiled sweetly.
“Fine if you want to go that bad and you are feeling completely fine then i will take you to the Ball party this weekend.”
Her face immediately lit up as she blinked.
“You'll come with me?”
“I'm not letting you go alone so ofcourse I'll be going with you.”
She smiled.
“Deal is done then.”
Taehyung looked away, hiding the small smile threatening to appear.
These days, he was becoming far too easy for her to manipulate.
All she needed was those innocent eyes, and the ruthless mafia king who had made grown men tremble would quietly surrender.
It wasn't only her requests that he had begun giving in to.
She had somehow developed the habit of scolding him too.
“Taehyung, you haven't eaten properly.”
“I ate.”
“That was just coffee.”
“Bur It counts right!”
“It absolutely does not.”
He had stared at her for several seconds before silently picking up his fork.
His men had witnessed the entire thing in stunned silence.
Another day, she had taken one look at the glass in his hand.
“That's enough alcohol.”
Taehyung had actually put it down.
Jimin had nearly choked.
And when she once told him, “You should talk more politely to people,” Taehyung had listened without a single argument.
Nobody knew what was more shocking -the fact that Kim Taehyung obeyed her or the fact that he seemed genuinely happy doing it.
───
The ball was one of those extravagant gatherings attended only by the city's wealthiest and most influential elite , powerful businessmen, politicians, underworld leaders, heiresses dressed in diamonds, and families whose names carried as much weight as their fortunes.
Jimin had been unusually enthusiastic about it when he told her about the event, secretly hoping she would convince Taehyung to attend with her. Taehyung despised unnecessary social gatherings and usually appeared only when business deals, alliances, or negotiations required his presence but Jimin knew one thing for certain: if anyone could drag the notoriously antisocial mafia king to a ball for an evening of food, music, and fun, it was his wife.
When Taehyung returned home, he carried a long garment box in his hands. He stopped in front of her and held it out, suddenly looking almost shy as he scratched the back of his neck.
“It’s for you.”
She blinked in surprise before taking the box from him. “For me?”
He nodded, his eyes briefly shifting away.
“It’s going to be our first public appearance together,” he murmured. “So… Kim Taehyung’s woman should look like she owns the place.”
Her heart fluttered at the words.
She slowly opened the box.
Inside lay a breathtaking dress, carefully chosen in a style that was elegant without being overwhelming. She stared at it in awe, her fingers lightly brushing the fabric.
“Taehyung…”
He watched her reaction quietly, trying to hide the satisfaction in his eyes.
“You like it?”
She looked up at him with the brightest smile.
“I love it.”
And somehow, that simple smile made every bit of effort worth it.
Later, when she finally came downstairs wearing the dress, Taehyung was waiting in the foyer.
He looked up.
And stopped.
Completely.
His eyes travelled over her, taking in every detail, before finally returning to her face. For once, Kim Taehyung the ruthless mafia king who could stare down an armed enemy without blinking simply forgot how to breathe. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, almost ethereal beneath the warm chandelier lights.
She shifted nervously beneath his intense gaze.
“Is it okay? How am I looking?"
He continued staring.
“Taehyung?”
“You look…”
He stopped, seemingly searching for a word that could possibly do her justice.
She waited.
He finally exhaled softly.
“Beautiful.”
Her cheeks warmed instantly as she looked away shyly.
“You look very handsome too.”
The corner of his lips curved.
“I know.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“That was arrogant.”
“I was only agreeing with my wife.”
She laughed, and just like that, the tension broke.
Taehyung's heartbeat finally settled.
Almost.
Because even as he offered her his arm, he couldn't stop stealing glances at her, silently wondering how he was supposed to survive an entire evening with the most beautiful woman in the room standing beside him.
It was their first public appearance together as husband and wife.
The moment they entered the ballroom, cameras turned toward them.
Whispers spread through the room.
Kim Taehyung.
His wife.
The mysterious Mrs. Kim.
She instinctively tightened her fingers around his arm. He noticed immediately.
“I've never been photographed like this.”
He leaned slightly closer.
“Dont worry. You have nothing to be nervous about. Just hold onto me and follow me, rest I'll handle everything myself. Just focus on enjoying the evening and all the tasty food you were excited about." His voice softened.
Her nervous smile returned.
And somehow, that was enough as suddenly everything seemed easier than before, the night slowly became easier.
There was music, laughter, extravagant food and people who were far too fascinated by the mysterious woman who had somehow managed to soften The Kim Taehyung.
She looked around the ballroom, watching couples dancing and laughing together on the polished floor. For a moment, she simply watched them, her eyes bright with curiosity. Then she turned toward Taehyung and gently tugged at his hand.
“Taehyung, dance with me.”
He glanced toward the dance floor and immediately looked away.
“Let’s enjoy the food you were talking about.”
She blinked. “You’re changing the topic.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I think you should try the dessert.”
She smiled knowingly. “Taehyung.”
“No.”
“Please.”
She gave him the most innocent puppy eyes she could manage.
Taehyung stared at her.
She stared back.
A few seconds passed.
He sighed, defeated.
“You’re impossible.”
Her face immediately lit up with triumph.
A few moments later, the feared mafia king was standing on the dance floor with his wife.
She giggled when he stepped in the wrong direction.
“I don’t dance,” he muttered. “I don't know how to.”
“You do now.” She took his hand gently. “Let me teach you. Just focus on us, okay? Forget everyone else. Focus on having fun. You can do that.”
He looked at her for a moment before nodding.
She carefully placed one of his hands around her waist and guided his other hand into hers. Then, almost shyly, she rested her free hand against his chest and stepped closer.
Taehyung stopped breathing for a second.
She was suddenly so close.
Close enough for him to feel her warmth through the fabric of her dress, close enough to catch her familiar scent, close enough that the rest of the ballroom seemed to blur around them.
She noticed his stunned expression and smiled softly.
“Relax.”
His hand instinctively settled more securely around her waist.
She placed her hands lightly on his shoulders, and they began moving together with the music.
Her heart fluttered at the warmth of his large hand against her waist. She had never been this conscious of his touch before. Every small movement seemed to send another nervous little flutter through her chest.
Taehyung wasn't doing much better.
His gaze remained fixed on her face.
She looked breathtakingly beautiful this close, her eyes shining beneath the ballroom lights. Yet there was something beyond attraction in the way he looked at her now something softer, deeper, something neither of them quite knew how to name.
A few moments ago, he had been desperately trying to avoid dancing.
Now he didn't want the song to end.
She slowly guided him through the steps.
Taehyung followed, surprisingly obedient.
But after a while, she noticed something.
He wasn't looking at their feet.
He wasn't looking around the ballroom either.
He was looking at her.
She raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
His lips curved faintly.
“I know.”
She laughed softly and shook her head, continuing to guide him.
Neither of them noticed how many people had begun watching.
Neither cared.
Their eyes remained locked, their smiles becoming softer as they moved together.
For those few minutes, the ruthless mafia king who ruled an entire dark world simply disappeared.
There was only Taehyung.
And his woman in his arms.
And somehow, surrounded by hundreds of people, they both felt as though there were only two people in the entire ballroom.
Her and him.
Kim Taehyung the man who rarely smiled, rarely touched anyone, and had once been infamous for treating every social gathering like a business meeting was dancing with his wife as though the entire ballroom had disappeared.
And perhaps, for him, it had.
When she was beside him, the rest of the world became background noise.
Later, Taehyung was pulled into a conversation with several influential men.
She remained nearby, enjoying her dessert.
That was when one of the men's daughters approached.
She looked Taehyung up and down without even attempting to hide her interest.
“So you're finally showing your wife in public.”
Taehyung barely acknowledged her.
She continued anyway.
“You know, men like you aren't really made for marriage. Mafia men aren't loyal. They keep mistresses for entertainment. Wives are mostly for appearances, alliances, and producing heirs. And finally, you chose yourself a beautiful little showpiece.”
She smiled shamelessly and stepped closer.
“So, is the mistress position still empty, or have you already chosen someone for yourself? Because if it's vacant, I'd like to apply.”
Her eyes flickered toward his wife before returning to him.
“I promise we'd have far more fun than she could ever give you. I'm sure someone like her can't satisfy you enough anyway.”
She smiled.
“So why don't you let me take that place?”
Several men around them chuckled.
She looked disgusted.
The woman turned toward Taehyung.
“So if you're looking for a mistress…”
She stepped closer seductively.
“I'm available.”
Then she glanced toward his wife.
"Your accidental little wife won't wind, will she?"
Suddenly the laughter stopped because Taehyung’s expression had changed.
He turned toward the woman slowly.
“Enough.”
His voice was quiet.
The woman smiled nervously. “I was only joking.”
“No.” His gaze hardened.
“You were disrespecting my wife and that too in front of her man. The audacity.”
His jaw tightened.
“I will not tolerate that. Not at any cost.”
He took a slow step toward her.
“And for your information, I don't keep mistresses. I don't cheat.”
His eyes shifted toward his wife.
The coldness in them softened instantly.
“I believe in loyalty.”
He extended his hand toward her.
She immediately reached for it, clutching his fingers as though they were the only thing keeping her steady.
“The woman beside me isn't a showpiece. She isn't an alliance. And she certainly isn't someone I married simply to give me heirs.”
He looked directly at her.
“She is my wife.”
Her eyes shimmered as she stared at him, something warm and profound blooming inside her chest.
His gaze remained locked with hers.
“And she is the woman I chose.”
Her heart skipped.
Taehyung's voice softened, but every word carried absolute certainty.
“She is the person I want waiting for me when I come home. The person whose happiness matters to me. The person I will protect with everything I have.”
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“So don't ever insult her by suggesting that she isn't enough for me.”
Her eyes shimmered with emotions she didn't yet know how to name.
Then Taehyung's expression turned cold again as he looked back at the woman.
“And if you ever speak about my wife like that again…”
He paused.His eyes became frighteningly still.
“You won't live to see another day.”
The woman's face drained of color.
“Have I made myself clear?”
Nobody answered.
The men who had been laughing moments earlier were suddenly staring at their glasses, intimidated by the dangerous aura radiating from the mafia king.
Taehyung turned away.
His attention immediately returned to his wife.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded silently still speechless.
But she couldn't stop looking at him.
There was something different in her eyes now.
Something warm.
Something deep.
Something dangerously close to adoration.
“Come.”
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and guided her away from the group.
She followed without hesitation.
Taehyung didn't look back.
He didn't care about the party anymore.
Not when his wife had been disrespected.
Not when all he wanted was to get her somewhere safe, away from people who didn't understand what she meant to him.
And as she walked beside him, her fingers remained intertwined with his.
For the first time, she wasn't holding his hand because she needed protection.
She was holding it because she wanted to.
As they walked away, one of the older men grabbed his daughter by the arm.
“What have you done? You stupid sh*t !”
“I was only having fun, Dad. ”
“You ruined everything!” He shouts at her.
He glanced toward the doors through which Taehyung had just disappeared.
“Do you have any idea what this party is without Kim Taehyung? I could have made some great beneficial dealings with him but you dumb head you had to ruin everything. I will make sure you regret it."
The woman fell silent.
Meanwhile, Taehyung walked beside his wife, his hand still wrapped protectively around hers.
And she couldn't stop looking at him.
For the first time, she wasn't simply grateful for his protection.
Something much more dangerous had begun taking root in her heart.
lily ★. isfj. multifandom. hobi ᰔ. libra. she/her. bts, ethel cain, and ariana grande fanatic 𑣲୨ৎ. tim burton movie obsessed. #1 corpse bride rewatcher. irl blair waldorf & love quinn.
I’m sorry, but the “black ocean” discourse has officially pushed this beyond annoying and into embarrassingly fucking stupid territory.
So let me understand this correctly.
You are allegedly SO disgusted, SO betrayed, SO morally devastated by Namjoon and Hobi attending a Chris Brown concert that your grand act of resistance is to…
still go to the BTS concert.
Still buy the ticket.
Still enter the venue.
Still fill the seat.
Still contribute to the attendance.
Still listen to their music.
Still spend your evening watching the people you are supposedly “boycotting.”
But you’re going to turn your light stick off.
Oh. Revolutionary.
I’m sure HYBE is absolutely trembling over the money already deposited into their account while you stand there in the dark congratulating yourselves on dismantling the system.
Do some of you have even the faintest understanding of what the word boycott means?
A boycott involves withdrawing support. It does not mean financially supporting something, physically attending it, consuming the product, and then making the room slightly less colorful because you need strangers on Twitter to know you are Very Morally Upset™.
That is not a boycott.
That is a tantrum with assigned seating.
And apparently people are talking about creating a “black ocean” as though this is some devastating intellectual statement. No, it’s fucking childish. If these men have offended your principles so profoundly that you believe they deserve that kind of public rejection, SELL. YOUR. FUCKING. TICKET.
Give it to somebody who doesn’t give a shit about the DRAMA.
Stay home.
Stop streaming.
Stop buying albums.
Leave the fandom.
Do literally ANYTHING that requires you to sacrifice something instead of choosing the performative option where you still get to enjoy the concert afterward.
Because this entire thing boils down to:
“I refuse to support these men anymore 😡”
scans ticket
“I’m holding them accountable 😡”
walks into venue
“They need to feel the consequences 😡”
stands there for three hours listening to their music
“But my light stick was OFF.”
Please shut the fuck up.
And another thing: I do not condone abuse. Chris Brown assaulting Rihanna was horrific. Rihanna herself has publicly spoken about forgiving him, but her forgiveness does not require anybody else to forgive him, listen to him, or like him.
I still get down when I hear Chris Brown music. I still enjoy the music I grew up on he has had some bangers. There. Arrest me.
Which is exactly why watching this fandom appoint itself the Supreme Court of Celebrity Morality every seventy-two hours is so exhausting.
Two grown men went to a concert because they like the music.
And now people who are apparently horrified by the concept of enjoying music created by a problematic person are planning to attend a concert because they still enjoy the music created by two people whose behavior they currently find problematic.
HOW ARE YOU NOT HEARING YOURSELVES?
It is the exact fucking principle you are condemning.
That is the part making me feel like we have wandered into Idiocracy. Not merely stupidity stupidity has always existed but this bizarre modern mutation where people can demonstrate absolutely catastrophic reasoning while possessing the confidence of a tenured philosophy professor.
No logical consistency.
Just outrage, buzzwords, moral superiority and a fucking light stick.
If you genuinely believe Namjoon and Hobi crossed an unforgivable line, then have enough backbone to act accordingly.
Sell the ticket.
Leave.
Otherwise sit your ass down, turn the light stick on, enjoy the concert you CLEARLY still wanted to attend, and stop pretending your little blackout is some historic act of resistance.
Because screaming “I’m boycotting you!” from inside the building you paid them to enter might be one of the dumbest fucking sentences this fandom has ever collectively constructed.
my blog is normally a space for my writing rather than fandom discourse, and i’d like to keep it that way. but after watching the conversation surrounding namseok unfold across multiple platforms, there’s one distinction i think has become increasingly lost in the outrage: the difference between criticizing someone’s actions and condemning their entire character.
so, just this once, i want to say my piece.
i understand the disappointment. i share it.
namjoon and hobi attending and publicly posting from a chris brown concert was insensitive, and people are absolutely entitled to criticize that decision. question why they went. question why they posted it. argue that they should have considered the implications of publicly associating themselves with someone whose history includes violence against women.
that is legitimate criticism.
what i cannot follow is the leap from:
“they attended his concert” → “they support an abuser” → “they support abuse” → “this proves who BTS really are.”
those are fundamentally different claims, and the latter conclusions require knowledge about their beliefs and intentions that none of us actually possess.
maybe they knew everything about chris brown’s history. maybe they knew some of it. maybe very little. maybe even not at all.
maybe they separate the art from the artist. maybe they simply enjoy his music and failed to consider how their attendance—and especially publicly posting it—would be perceived.
i don’t know. neither do you. that’s the point.
and that uncertainty is precisely why i’m not going to invent the most charitable explanation for them, but i’m also not going to automatically substitute the most malicious one simply because i’m disappointed.
attendance establishes that they attended a concert. it does not, by itself, establish their knowledge, intentions, beliefs, or position on domestic and sexual violence.
and if we’re going to expand this conversation from criticizing one decision into evaluating BTS’ entire moral character, then their entire record deserves consideration too.
BTS have spent years partnered with UNICEF through LOVE MYSELF, supporting efforts against violence, abuse, bullying, and neglect against children and young people while helping raise millions for those efforts. throughout their careers, they’ve also publicly associated themselves with messages concerning gender equality and other social issues.
does that history excuse this decision?
no.
does this decision retroactively erase that history or prove those values were fraudulent?
also no.
two things can exist simultaneously. human beings can genuinely hold good values while still making ignorant, contradictory, careless, or insensitive decisions.
that is nuance.
and something else has particularly bothered me: seeing experiences with sexual assault + domestic violence used almost as moral credentials for declaring what namjoon, hobi (or apparently BTS as a whole) must believe.
i am a woman. i have survived domestic abuse + sexual assault/rape by a man too. i understand why this subject hurts. i understand why seeing those posts was upsetting and disappointing to other survivors.
but i REFUSE to use my trauma as evidence for an accusation i cannot substantiate. my experiences give me perspective on abuse. they do not give me telepathic access to two strangers’ morality.
and regarding the “i’m a woman before i’m an ARMY” rhetoric: of course i am a woman before i am a fan. but being a woman does not require me to surrender critical thinking, nor does refusing to assign an unproven moral identity to two men mean i somehow care less about victims.
frankly, i also think some of what we’re witnessing is the consequence of parasocial idealization.
some people spent years placing BTS on an impossible moral pedestal, and the moment they made a seriously disappointing decision, the pendulum swung from “they’re perfect” to “they were secretly horrible all along.”
both are parasocial.
BTS were never morally perfect beings. they are human beings. you don’t have to idealize someone to respect them, and you don’t have to demonize someone to hold them accountable.
which brings me to the people talking about organizing “black oceans,” booing them, or bringing signs specifically intended to humiliate BTS at future concerts.
at that point, please stop dressing coordinated humiliation up as accountability.
if this crosses a personal moral boundary for you, you are completely entitled to withdraw your support. but if you genuinely believe these men are morally reprehensible, nobody is forcing you to attend their concert specifically for the opportunity to publicly punish and humiliate them.
that isn’t constructive accountability. and gleefully anticipating the opportunity to humiliate people you supposedly support is not the moral high ground some seem to think it is.
there’s also an uncomfortable amount of moral absolutism surrounding the idea of separating art from artist.
buying a ticket can reasonably be described as financially supporting an artist. whether people should continue financially or publicly supporting artists whose actions they find morally reprehensible is a completely legitimate ethical conversation.
but financial or artistic support does not automatically establish moral endorsement of everything that artist has done.
people separate art from artists constantly. you can disagree with that choice. what you cannot logically establish from consumption alone is that somebody therefore shares the artist’s morality or endorses their abusive behavior.
and none of this means namjoon and hobi shouldn’t be criticized.
criticize them.
demand better. discuss chris brown’s history. discuss why women and survivors found those posts hurtful. question why namseok made that decision. withdraw your support if this crosses your personal boundary.
those are all legitimate responses.
but don’t turn uncertainty into evidence.
don’t turn disappointment into certainty about somebody’s character.
and don’t turn anger into permission for slander.
i can be disappointed in namjoon and hobi without hating them. i can criticize BTS without abandoning them. i can acknowledge a decision that appears painfully inconsistent with values they’ve demonstrated for years without deciding those values were secretly fraudulent all along.
again, that isn’t blind loyalty. it’s nuance.
so if you come onto my blog insisting this proves BTS “support abuse,” that their entire moral character has been exposed as fraudulent, or that anyone unwilling to participate in the hate campaign is somehow betraying women, i’m simply not entertaining it.
you don’t get to turn what you don’t know into evidence for what you’ve already decided to believe.
hold people accountable for what they actually do. allow criticism to remain proportional to the evidence. and stop confusing moral outrage with moral certainty.
i will defend BTS from slander and character assassination while simultaneously criticizing them when i believe criticism is warranted.
those positions are not contradictory.
accountability says: “what you did was wrong. do better.”
character assassination says: “what you did gives me permission to decide who you fundamentally are.”
learn the difference.
anyway. that’s the one dissertation you’re getting from me about this situation. now back to your regularly scheduled fanfic programming. 😭
hihi,, i have an extra Mang bt21 mcdonalds toy if anyone would like to trade !! the only one im missing is Van,, but im also open to trading him for other collectables of similar price !!
im also willing to sell it for about $5 USD (depending on shipping) if you have you have nothing to trade but still want it :)
the box is unopened and fully intact !! pls dm me or reply if you're interested :)
