Some fans believe it was a clear message.
BTS‘s latest concert in the US has stirred up yet another wave of criticism for their apparent insensitivity toward women.
The issue in question arose after the boy group held their ARIRANG World Tour concert in Chicago on August 28. Every show of this tour includes a special segment where the DJ spins random BTS songs for spontaneous performances. During the second Chicago show, one of the songs that was played during this segment was “13430” from BTS’s 2018 album Love Yourself: Tear.
NAMJOON RAPPING HIS “134340” VERSE BAR TO BAR😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/7hSMoJ9NYC
— knjpagee𝄢 (@knjpagee) August 29, 2026
Given that this was the first time BTS performed this song at their concert since 2019, this surprise performance drew massive reactions from fans.
However, controversy ensued after some fans found this song choice to be intentional, and not in a good way. For a long while, BTS fans were convinced that “13430” had been officially banned from live performance setlists, along with a few other songs, due to the involvement of a producer named Bobby Jung.
Bobby Jung (also known by his real name Jung Dae Wook) is a songwriter who was accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old aspiring singer and illegally filming the assault. Reports stated that the victim eventually took her life. Though Jung pleaded not guilty and the case was eventually dismissed, a second complaint against him was filed in 2021. Prosecutors merged both cases and indicted him under the Sexual Violence Crime Penalty Act. In 2022, he was sentenced to one year in prison for non consensually filming a woman. He was also banned from working in facilities related to children, youth, or people with disabilities for five years.
After Jung’s controversy surfaced, HYBE and BTS actively distanced themselves from him. Notably, “Home” and “Love Maze,” two songs that included Jung in the credits, were removed from the Permission to Dance On Stage US DVD release despite having been performed at concerts.
Given that BTS is already embroiled in a controversy over some of the members’ association with Chris Brown, a celebrity notorious for his multiple cases of violence against women, their performing a song with Bobby Jung in the credits, that too after years of not performing it live, has irked many fans.
To dear I-armys
If you really care about women’s rights, so you want to boycott Chris Brown’s songs, you should also boycott Jung bobby’s song collaborated with BTS.These are the list of the songs pic.twitter.com/6gZr2LEVOW
— 김ㅅF벳트 2.0(A1016) (@suga_sorbet) August 29, 2026
yeah so i genuinely dont get why they performed this live now after years of not doing so because of this https://t.co/49BB65ncRU
— loveshaped tae✿ (@philtaetos) August 29, 2026
It was a big story in 2022 during PTD. In the dvd they deleted the scenes with the songs. Others artists that worked with him also boycotted him. Hybe since then, bts and txt didn’t reuse the songs. I don’t know why yesterday they played 134340 …. It’s been 4y … https://t.co/Kj0OAOuDc3
— 𝑵 ⭐️ (@TheQueenNada) August 29, 2026
어젯밤 전 세계적으로 가해자를 옹호했다는 비판이 거세지는 상황에서 ‘134340’을 선곡한 건 정말 의외의 선택이네요. 정말 크게 실망했습니다. ❤️🩹😔
playing 134340 last night in the middle of a worldwide backlash for supporting abusers was definitely a choice. Greatly disappointed ❤️🩹😔… https://t.co/iMgL6yoayw
— Nekare VK7 saw BTS 7x & Hobi x2 (@NekareVK) August 29, 2026
BTS pissing me off more wdym you’re playing a song co written by an abuser in the midst of this controversy like I might give up hope and just sell everything I have of them and block them. We’re not getting any statement from them
— strawberry▽🍃🍓 FREE🇵🇸 (@strawbrrysakura) August 29, 2026
performing 134340 in the middle of this chris brown controversy is certainly a choice. When you know the tragic context, it feels less like a coincidence and more like a provocation. And honestly, what kind of message are you trying to send? 🤦🏻♀️ Your choices are more disappointing… https://t.co/eWF2oCjOoa
— Nekare VK7 saw BTS 7x & Hobi x2 (@NekareVK) August 29, 2026
However, many fans defended the group, arguing that the claims were too far-fetched and maliciously intended.
So now BTS is no longer allowed to perform their iconic songs because it’s problematic now? I think you have to go see a doctor my beautiful https://t.co/tm3XsjFlAA
— VelvetVampire⁷🇫🇷 (@_petrovavibes_) August 29, 2026
we’re going to get you guys all the help you need for making controversy over a man that produced for them like 6 times in 2019 https://t.co/OcsdAxfwpD
— loj (@JlMlNNNN) August 29, 2026
Meanwhile, BTS’s silence on the entire Chris Brown controversy continues, fueling speculations about their stance.
