BTS’s RM Faces Intense Backlash and Accusations of Hypocrisy Over Recent Speech
BTS’s RM is facing major backlash for hypocrisy in his recent speech.
The controversy began after RM spoke at the APEC CEO Summit 2025 during the cultural session titled “Cultural and Creative Industries in the APEC Region and the Soft Power of K-Culture.” He asked world leaders to help creators globally with financial support.
But soon after, netizens dug up past clips accusing RM of bragging about BTS “paving the way” for Asian artists — dismissing other groups and artists.
One Twitter user wrote:
“He’s a straight up narcissist, always boasting about himself n discredits smaller artists, don’t let the media play fool you, he has 0 humility or respect for others”
— @mczist
Others went harder, slamming his personality and linking it to recent HYBE controversies as an attempt to discredit him.
“Him always acting so moralistic and diplomatic when in reality he is just a raging misogynist, narcissistic, racist, colourist, egocentric, sexist, pro nazi, zionist enabler, investor of AI company coz he’s a weirdo, porn addict and gets off to books with sexual violence theme.”
— @_bitchgtfo
Critics pointed out RM’s earlier silence on other artists and called out the “hypocrisy”:
“Oh now he cares about other artists? When few years ago him and his group refuse to mention any other artists but themselves, the hypocrisy.”
— @AMXOJU
“you disrespect other groups by claiming your group “paved the way,” which is a lie. your company exploits social issues, mental health, queerbaiting, and parasocial relationships to market your group. you and your company have no right to speak.”
— @pinkvoila
“Ain’t he the one who always discredits asian artists by arrogantly saying he and his group paved the way for asia?”
— @mndublinkk
“RM made it sound like no one knew Korea when they debut. the disrespect for Korean artists who introduced the world to kpop like Wonder Girls and Psy “
— @mintycara
“He’s the kind of guy who always disrespects other artists by saying they paved the way for Asia, yet now he’s acting like he cares about artists. If he truly cared about other artists, he’d praise every artist who’s growing the K-pop industry.”
— @WeareOne_EXO__L
Twitter extracted RM’s speech snippet:
RM in a message to world leaders during his speech today:
“As a creator and artist of this generation, I’d like to use this opportunity to make a request to the distinguished leaders of APEC. There are creators all over the world. Please help them. Give them the financial… pic.twitter.com/QycfjwiWr1
— About Music (@AboutMusicYT) October 29, 2025
As the situation keeps unfolding, RM and HYBE have yet to respond to the growing criticism.
Watch RM’s full APEC speech recap here: