3-9-2023 (SEOUL) BTS’ rapper and leader, RM, has addressed the growing issue of Islamophobia surrounding him, firmly denying any intention to insult the religion and asserting that he sees no reason to offer an apology.
The controversy ignited back in August when RM, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, shared American singer Frank Ocean’s song “Bad Religion” from 2012 on his Instagram story. The song discusses the idea of love without the constraints of religion, but certain parts of it were interpreted by some listeners as being Islamophobic.
In the days that followed, online outrage grew, with many individuals taking to social media to condemn RM’s actions as religiously insulting and demanding an apology to Muslims.
RM, realizing that the situation would not naturally subside, ended his silence on Wednesday.
“You keep saying that I insulted a religion, but I didn’t. There was no intention or purpose to insult a religion. I respect every belief and religion. That’s all I could say,” RM stated during a Weverse live broadcast on Thursday.
RM firmly reiterated that he was not offering an apology and requested respect from those who were unreasonably attacking him.
