RM Responds to 'Islamophobic' Backlash Over Frank Ocean Song
BTS' leader, RM, has responded to backlash he received after posting a Frank Ocean song to his Instagram Story.
RM addressed the online controversy in a Weverse livestream on Aug. 30.
"You guys keep saying I insulted a religion, but I didn't. There was not any intention or purpose to insult a religion I respect. I respect every belief and every religion. I know what's going on on Instagram, I can see. But there was no such purpose or intention to insult a religion, OK? Guys, it's a song, OK?" he said, according to one fan's translation.
"I'm not apologizing. I'm 30 years old, I can express my truth. Don't assume! Believe my words. Even when I'm telling my truth, I can't convince every person, and some might say, 'Oh, you're lying, you're insulting,' but I just can't lie, guys, I can't lie to you. I'm being honest," RM continued.
"I heard there's problems and there's been noises around. Some people keep chatting [to] me about that. Please believe me. I didn't wanna say [anything] about this, but some people make me say about this. I can't stand it right now because I've been holding it in. I just can't deal with it, I just have to say it. If it's just me, believe my own words. Please have a heart," the "Wild Flower" rapper added.
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On Aug. 16, the rapper shared Ocean's song "Bad Religion" on his Instagram Story, which he frequently does for music he's currently listening to. The song is off Ocean's acclaimed 2012 debut album, Channel Orange.
However, some people online took issue with the post, claiming it was Islamophobic due to some of the song's lyrics and criticizing RM for sharing it with his massive following as an ambassador for UNICEF.
Ocean raps on the track:
He said "Allahu akbar"
I told him, "Don't curse me"
"Bobo, you need prayer"
I guess it couldn't hurt me
If it brings me to my knees
It's a bad religion
Ooh-ooh-hoo, this unrequited love
To me, it's nothin' but a one-man cult
And cyanide in my styrofoam cup
I can never make him love me
Meanwhile, many other fans argued that the song is about unrequited love and is not supposedly about any one particular religion.
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While there is still an ongoing debate on what's actually cultural appropriation and what's cultural appreciation, check out 25 times celebrities have been accused of being a culture vulture.
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