BTS leader RM denies Islamophobia, says he won’t apologise
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The controversy was sparked in August, when RM shared American singer Frank Ocean’s Bad Religion on his Instagram story.
PHOTO: RKIVE/INSTAGRAM
SEOUL – BTS’ rapper and leader RM addressed the issue of Islamophobia building up around him, denying any intention to insult the religion and stating he has no reasons to apologise.
The controversy was sparked in August, when RM shared American singer Frank Ocean’s Bad Religion on his Instagram story.
The 2012 song talks about loving without the restraint of religion, but some parts were interpreted by listeners as being Islamophobic.
Online anger mounted over the next days, with many taking to RM’s social media to condemn his action as religiously insulting and demanding for an apology to Muslims.
RM, in realising the situation will not cool by itself, broke 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 can say,” the South Korean star of the K-pop supergroup said on Thursday during a Weverse live broadcast.
RM, well known for his honest communications on various topics and about himself, again confronted the situation and spoke up for himself.
“I understand what’s going (on in) my Instagram. I can see. But there was no such purpose or even at least 1 per cent of intention in my heart to insult a religion,” he added, shaking his head and rolling his eyes in apparent frustration.
RM also clarified he was not apologising and asked for respect from those people attacking him unreasonably.
“I’m not apologising. I’m just saying. I have my own soul. I’m 30 years old. I can express my truth… Please, the word is the word; it is what it is. Please believe my words from myself, not just guessing, pretending and assuming,” he said.
The rapper acknowledged such misunderstandings have been repeated over his decade-long career and said he has had enough.
“I didn’t want to talk about this, but some people just made me talk about this. I just can’t stand (it) right now. I’ve been holding my things in my heart for 10 years. But now, I can’t deal with this. I just have to say. If it’s me, believe my own words,” he said, adding, “Problems happen, but I am a strong man.”
RM, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, is the leader and rapper-producer of BTS. The boy band are on a group hiatus for the members to focus on their solo works and serve the military. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
