ARMYs are calling out their own fandom for attempting to “cover-up” the incident of fans seemingly violating BTS Jin’s personal space by trying to kiss him.
In a now-viral tweet, a BTS fan account called out their co-fans, accusing them of duplicity over the safety of the idol.
the fact that there was significant backlash at the mere possibility of an army wearing a kuffiyeh or a free palestine shirt bc “thats harassing him”, but we literally have footage of an army assaulting him and yall wanna bury the evidence?? yall wanna protect the assaulter??
— a⁷ 🍉 (@stillwithjin) June 13, 2024
This scathing criticism comes in the light of the Jin’s Greetings event of the 2024 FESTA, undoubtedly the most anticipated part of BTS’s 11th anniversary celebration. On June 13, Jin met with 1000 ARMYs face-to-face, giving out hugs to each one of them. During this event, a fan was caught on camera seemingly planting a kiss on the idol’s cheek. The incident soon spread like wildfire online after one attendee posted the video on X (formerly Twitter). But soon after, the OP’s (original poster) account was suspended.
The likely reason behind this suspension was multiple fan accounts reporting it en masse. Many ARMYs, worried that the video might affect Jin’s reputation, immediately mobilized to get the user de-platformed.
this account is getting restricted now, go MASS REPORT AND BLOCK NOW ‼️🚨https://t.co/ccbk1sAmO8 pic.twitter.com/tJIVWzrPhU
— flo ia (@floblossomstar) June 13, 2024
guys please STOP spreading the picture of 🐹 and that fan!!!! we, as well as you all, were very concerned with the alleged stuff that the person may had done to him but I’m afraid haters will try to use this to drag him once more.. so please don’t share it
— REPORT FOR SEOKJIN 🧑🏻🚀 (@reportseokjin) June 13, 2024
🚨MASS REPORT
⚠️ARMY and SeokJinnies please don’t engage or further quote this account📢PLEASE REPORT all the post under this account under a spam and this video under Targeted harassment.This is an Anti
They created their account to do a smear campaign and sabotaged the event https://t.co/Y4y383udwE pic.twitter.com/MwXAFZXvTM
— Protect JIN ⚖️ (@ProtectorofJin) June 13, 2024
This move has ticked off many in the BTS fan community, especially after comparing the intensity of the reaction to cover up this incident versus the apathy toward ARMYs who were targeted for so much as suggesting mild actions to inform Jin about the fandom’s pro-Palestinian sentiments. The community has been at a rift for months over their varied opinions about the pro-Palestinian actions, mostly led by Palestinian ARMYs themselves. But this time, fans were particularly upset about the doxxing incident of one particular Muslim woman, whose face was plastered on social media after she suggested that pro-Palestinian ARMYs wear a shirt with their desired message on it to avoid being censored at the event.
Jin is coming back home to meet armys instead of saying how much you love him how you missed him you have to mention a vgly man just to
Let him know yall are obsessed with 🛴 more than BTS https://t.co/7Pux5fUAUi— hⓥtsʳᵖʷᵖ (@riiverreeeee) June 8, 2024
Protect your artist from people like this@weverseofficial @BIGHIT_MUSIC @HYBEOFFICIALtwt
— mylabseokjinnie🌙👨🚀🌟 (@superjinnie1204) June 8, 2024
PLEASE TAKE LEGAL ACTION TO THIS ANTI
AlSO MAIL TO BIGHIT @weverseofficial @BIGHIT_MUSIC
— My JIN (@jin_Dday) June 8, 2024
After the post criticizing ARMY’s response to the incident went viral, both sides of the fandom left their two cents on it. While some denied that the harassment of pro-Palestinian ARMYs ever took place and argued that not spreading the video of the incident was in Jin’s best interest, others called out the concern over optics to the point where the video’s original poster was suspended within merely an hour.
literally NO ONE had any mfing backlash like that.. y’all are just sick as hell.. are y’all not finished lying… using this as a gotcha moment.. JUST DISGUSTING AS HELL AFTER Y’ALL DIDNT EVEN WANT HIS HUGGING EVENT TO HAPPEN.. REST https://t.co/ChDSE2o6BL
— 🙂 ⁷⁼¹ (@dayyzindistress) June 13, 2024
there was literally zero backlash over this.. why y’all are just lying???? no one said anything about those wearing a kuffiyeh https://t.co/beCQu6Tr0r
— 아포방포 (@seokjinba) June 13, 2024
Saying that dont spread that picture is now defending the assault???
It’s really astonishing how disgusting you people are.
You want that picture to be spread so you can get some likes for saying “I told you”.
Y’all are sick and twisted. https://t.co/AcSM5WVUMB— yun_7 🥢 | semi ia📚 (@polar_nighttt) June 13, 2024
This fandom has literally lost its soul. You’re all disgusting pieces of sh1t. Jumping at the chance to mass report fundraising for Palestinians but you draw the line at reporting & shaming someone who literally assaulted a member. I see. https://t.co/K0tB7eyfTl
— JoonsBonsaiTree⁷ 🍉🔍⍤⃝🔎 (@bobbi_z_) June 13, 2024
and that’s why they did it too, bc this fandom made it comfortable for ppl like them to do these things. they know someone that would’ve worn a kuffiyeh would’ve gotten more backlash than a literal assault. yall make it comfortable for literally i0f soldiers to be here so why not https://t.co/81qAFOsiO1
— jin thee stallion in a skirt (@herwithluv) June 13, 2024
attacking anyone suggesting the hug event attendees to wear smth in support of Palestine calling it harassment just to switch up and excuse ACTUAL sexual harassment is insane behavior https://t.co/CzgMt24WJ4
— Unicat 🍉 (@unicatryoshka) June 13, 2024
Meanwhile, BIGHIT MUSIC is yet to make any statements about the incident in question despite mounting criticism over their lack of proper security Jin. You can read more about the incident here.
