Filmmaker Faces Backlash for Allegedly Endangering BTS’s Safety

**BTS** is facing backlash after filmmaker Bao Nguyen made a controversial comment about the group’s upcoming Netflix documentary, BTS: The Return.

Nguyen, who directed the documentary covering BTS’s behind-the-scenes work on their latest album ARIRANG, revealed a surprising moment from the film. The documentary shows all seven BTS members spending a relaxed afternoon on a Santa Monica beach without being mobbed by fans, despite their global fame.

The controversy began when Nguyen said he had hoped for a “Beatles-esque moment” where BTS would be recognized and chased by fans. Instead, the members were able to casually kick a ball, chat, and swim.

Nguyen told the press that he had actually been hoping for a Beatles-esque moment in which they were recognized, but the members ended up being able to kick around a ball, sit, chat … and, yes, go for a swim.

— Vulture

Fans quickly reacted online, criticizing Nguyen’s comment as insensitive and inappropriate.

hoping for them to get mobbed and chased yeah everyone needs to be fired pic.twitter.com/6e6quoHdzr

— silly dog⁷ (@rjsoup) March 25, 2026

no guys, this better be 1) a joke 2) bad written cause ain’t no fucking way someone is hoping for that…like how insane do you have to be to hope for that https://t.co/JMUErHcdst

— future’s gonna be okay⁷ (@STHYNJJ_613) March 25, 2026

Nguyen and Nicole Kim need to be gone and not associate with anything BTS do again

— tana (@cupofsaoirse) March 25, 2026

As the situation unfolded, some fans gave Nguyen the benefit of the doubt, suggesting the comment was poorly worded or misunderstood.

I feel inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume this was poorly worded, and that it’s meant that he “anticipated” or “expected” that but was pleasantly surprised because why tf would you hope for that https://t.co/lrPfuSUzUo

— Krys ⁷ (@thejinnieeffect) March 25, 2026

wait wait, i think he means he’s just surprised that this didnt happened guys, cause they’re really famous. I dont think he means he’s disappointed that this didnt happened…I hope so https://t.co/yvK3WO1OMC

— 𝑩¡e⁷⋆✮ ⊙⊝⊜ (@jungoosebumps) March 25, 2026

Y’all know that “hope for” is another way of saying “expect” right?? It’s not that he wanted them to get mobbed, but knowing how big they are he was thrown off by the fact that the boys have fans who respect their privacy idk at least that’s how I understood it https://t.co/m7ydiGSlVE

— pipo ta ARIRANGADA ⊙⊝⊜ (@kooniverses) March 25, 2026

Meanwhile, the same Vulture article revealed a HYBE executive’s involvement in the ARIRANG lyrics controversy. Read more here:

Blame For BTS’s “ARIRANG” English Lyric Controversy Directed At Well-Known HYBE Staff