Bruno Mars and Rosé (BLACKPINK) have recently become major talking points as their collaboration “APT.” scored three Grammy nominations in key categories, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. For Rosé, this achievement stands out even more as it marks an unprecedented milestone for a female K-pop solo artist.
While the news initially received warm congratulations from global fans, the artists’ recent remarks regarding their Grammy nominations have sparked significant controversy. On the 10th, Rosé drew criticism after referring to herself as “the history of first кσяєαn K-pop artist” and “somebody that looks like me never in a million years,” despite the fact that Sumi Jo was the first кσяєαn soloist to win a Grammy, and BTS were the first K-pop act to be nominated and to perform. BTS even reached that milestone back in 2021 — four years before her.
And while public backlash toward Rosé’s sensitive comments had yet to subside, Bruno Mars further inflamed online discussions with an inaccurate remark about K-pop, one that many accused of disrespecting BTS — the group widely recognized for truly paving the way for K-pop on the global stage.
Specifically, while discussing the impact of “APT.” and Rosé, Bruno Mars said: “No one says it, but I feel like Rosie is the first time we’ve seen this. The last time we’ve seen soмєтнing to this effect was ‘Gangnam Style.’ I still think that was an amazing thing to happen, this guy comes out and he’s talking about Gangnam style and the whole song is in кσяєαn and that’s the learning lesson, the rock star-ness of that. This is what we do, this is how I talk, this is what we look like, this is how we’re dancing over here — and watch me sweep the nation with this s–t. And he did.”
He went on to emphasize: “‘APT.’ with Rosie, I’ve never felt this before, I’ve never seen this before, where Rosie is this кσяєαn girl that introduced this thing to people who don’t know about it, including myself. And that’s been the most enjoyable part for me. Seeing everybody react… that is magic to watch.”
Bruno’s comments suggest that Rosé introducing K-pop to international au∂ιєnces was soмєтнing unseen since “Gangnam Style” — and that “APT.” is somehow the newest groundbreaking moment for кσяєαn music. This instantly angered many ARMYs, who argued that Bruno was erasing BTS’s enormous contributions to K-pop’s global rise. After PSY’s “Gangnam Style,” it was BTS who became the first K-pop act to reach #1 on the Billboard charts.
BTS were not only the first K-pop group to be nominated for a Grammy and to perform at the ceremony, but they also achieved a long list of records, awards, and historic milestones for years before “APT.” even existed. Many also pointed out that Bruno Mars spoke as though Rosé and “APT.” were the first кσяєαn artist and first кσяєαn-language song to introduce K-pop globally — even though “APT.” is not entirely in кσяєαn. In reality, BTS’s “Yet To Come” was the first-ever кσяєαn-language track to earn a Grammy nomination, a milestone that marked a major moment for K-pop on the awards’ global stage.
Moreover, some netizens expressed: “Bruno thanked BTS before — like when he performed ‘Drippin’’ on Carpool Karaoke or when BTS attended his concert in 2022 — but now he’s acting like he’s only just discovered K-pop?” This led many to accuse Bruno of being disingenuous and exaggerating, no less problematic than Rosé’s earlier claim.
Fans also recalled a comment by PSY on CNN News 2022: “When the song is a нιт, then your songs need to continue to be нιтs. When the person is a нιт, the success is more sustainable. In this case, I’m the former and BTS is the latter.”
BTS stand on an entirely different level from the rest of K-pop — they are a true global mega-IP whose cultural influence remains strong even during extended musical hiatuses. They do not rely on a single viral track to define their stature; rather, they themselves are the driving force that turns everything they touch into a global phenomenon. BTS have set a new standard for the industry: success built on the artist as a lasting cultural entity, not merely on short-lived songs.
On social media, heated debates surrounding Bruno’s latest remarks continue to surge:
- Why is he lying? He literally hung out with BTS didn’t he? He’s acting like they don’t exist
- Bruno comparing APT's impact to Gangnam Style?Seems like strategic amnesia about Dynamite—the song that actually changed history & topped Billboard for 3 weeks! Your feelings are cute, but numbers don't lie my guy
- Bruno, remembers these guys - biggest group in the world- who were seen as such a challenge to pop that now there is a k-pop category at award shows? Have been for a few years so not really new....
- Yes Bruno, cause K-pop, kdrama, k everything wasn’t existing after Psy and only now awoke thanks to you and Rose with an English song, I am crying
- the way ‘Bruno oppa’ skipped straight from Gangnam Style to APT… like THE GLOBAL TAKEOVER of BTS never happened. that’s not an opinion that’s amnesia
- i can’t respect an artist who doesn’t know how to respect other artists. shame.
- not even a bts fan but this seems oddly яα¢ιѕт cuz why are you so comfortable erasing a korean act's global dominance so easily lmao
- Bruno mars acting like he did soмєтнing for kpop while constantly discrediting BTS
- The constant erasure of BTS’s impact has become so normalized in this industry. Acting like two-нιт wonders had “more impact” when BTS are the reason K-pop is even on the global map and recognized the way it is today.
