It’s award season, which means one thing: somehow, some way, BTS’s name will be dragged into the conversation—even when they have nothing to do with it. Case in point: Korean media recently covered Blackpink Rosé’s win at the VMAs, a big achievement in its own right, but instead of focusing solely on her, they decided to toss BTS into the headline mix.
Fans were quick to call it out, and for good reason. Why does every success story in K-pop have to be framed in comparison to BTS? Rosé’s win is hers—she worked for it, she deserves to be celebrated without her achievement being stacked against another group’s legacy. But apparently, some outlets just can’t resist using BTS as a measuring stick for everything.
The criticism came fast online, with many pointing out how unfair it is for both sides. On one hand, Rosé’s big moment is overshadowed by unnecessary comparisons. On the other, BTS once again gets pulled into a conversation they didn’t ask to be part of. It’s exhausting, predictable, and honestly, lazy journalism.
And let’s be real—BTS doesn’t need to be mentioned to validate someone else’s achievement. They’re in a league of their own, with records and milestones that stand untouched. Constantly dragging them into unrelated stories doesn’t highlight anyone’s greatness—it just shows how much the media relies on their name to grab attention.
Fans of both artists agreed on one thing: let Rosé shine for her own win, and let BTS rest without being used as a comparison tool. K-pop is big enough for multiple artists to succeed without turning every headline into a competition.
At the end of the day, both BTS and Rosé are global stars who deserve recognition on their own terms. But until the media learns to celebrate achievements without unnecessary name-dropping, ARMY will keep calling it out loud and clear.
