Louis Tomlinson’s Candid Remark on BTS Ignites Discussion on How Other Idols Treat the Group
Louis Tomlinson is facing buzz after opening up about BTS breaking One Direction’s records.
The former One Direction member talked to Billboard about the record-breaking success of BTS and how it felt to see his group’s achievements surpassed.
He admitted it was tough watching BTS take over record after record, but stressed he holds no grudges.
“There was a time where BTS, they just got to their peak, I know they are still there but when they were on their way up, I felt like every time I got onto Twitter, they had taken one of our, like we got some record for something, fastest selling thing, and they had taken it. It felt like every week, I was going and seeing a new thing taken away from me by BTS.”
“It did make me a little, it was a bit of shame, we had all these things, but I don’t begrudge them. That’s the nature of the music industry, it keeps moving.”
— Louis Tomlinson
The controversy began with fans praising Louis’s respectful take. His honesty led to backlash against other idols and Korean artists who have reportedly disrespected BTS in past interviews.
Twitter reacted fast:
“Notice how he said it with respect and honesty, unlike certain people who take credit for BTS’s legacy as their own.”
— @solmerv
“while their korean peers and seniors would rather eat charcoal than admit that”
— @HYYHOYA
“the concept of louis tomlinson being more respectful and honest about BTS’ impact than fuckass *** who’ve been their industry peers and supposed friends for years like you cannot make this up”
— @userlesbien
“I like the way he spoke without disrespecting another group, unlike a certain artist who pretended BTS doesn’t exist.”
— @syhu_uh
“if a member of the most well known boyband in the world can admit this and not hold a grudge why can’t nugu #63837 in korea do the same”
— @koonimies
“I like how most western artists who are/were actually successful like bts can talk about them breaking their records or surpassing them but kpop acts in their own gen treat them like Voldemort lol jealousy I guess ”
— @anijajeon
The interview spotlighted BTS’s impact and the mixed reactions from peers.
The members of BTS
.@Louis_Tomlinson opens up about seeing new groups, like BTS, break One Direction’s records:
“I don’t begrudge them […] that’s the nature of the music industry, it just keeps moving.” pic.twitter.com/5jKy4cC9h9
— billboard (@billboard) January 12, 2026