A few days ago, a major hostile campaign targeting BTS emerged under the hashtag #btsdisband. The campaign was initiated by a group of extremists and anti-fans who took advantage of BTS’s recent controversies — from BTS’s collaboration with AI Gemini and interactions related to Chris Brown to allegations that the group has an “extreme obsession with weight” and puts pressure on other idols.

These people continuously posted and shared offensive content attacking the members and tarnishing their reputation in an attempt to damage the group’s image and accelerate the downfall of both BTS and ARMY. What initially started with a small group later spread across multiple K-pop fandoms, including some fans of CORTIS, EXO, Red Velvet, Stray Kids, and more. Even נαραиese girl group f5ve was caught by ARMYs after its official TikTok account reposted a video containing the hashtag #btsdisband, only to quickly delete it afterward.

One particularly notable case in this incident involved a group of NCT fans. These fans also joined in pushing the hashtag and posted a number of negative comments targeting BTS on social media. However, what made the situation interesting was that their idols quickly responded in the complete opposite way, leaving these overly aggressive fans in an incredibly embarrαѕѕing situation.

Apparently aware that some of their fans had taken part in the attacks against BTS, NCT took the initiative to acknowledge the issue and apologize on the 23rd. On NCT’s official Bubble page, a message was posted saying: “We are so sorry that our fans are miss behaving. We beg your pardon BTS legends.”

Not stopping there, Jisung — a member of NCT — even used BTS’s song “2.0” in a TikTok video celebrating the group’s 10th anniversary shortly afterward. The move was seen as a way of showing his respect and affection for BTS, standing in complete contrast to what some of his fans had been doing on social media.

In the highly competitive K-pop industry, conflicts between fandoms happen all the time, but it is extremely rare for idols to directly take responsibility for their fans’ uncontrolled behavior. NCT’s official Bubble page directly issuing an apology, along with Jisung’s video, was a surprising move — one that ARMYs described as a wake-up call for their own overly aggressive fans.

The move left those who attacked others in the name of their “love for their idols” deeply embarrαѕѕed, as their own idols were showing admiration and respect for the very artists they had been trying to tear down. One fan even sarcastically remarked: “Imagine trending disband tags and then you got your idols celebrating their 10th anniversary with BTS songs.” Another fan said: "How shameful that your favorites are coming out to apologize for your bad actions. Aniway #BTSKARMA".

ARMYs also praised NCT’s response for showing the responsibility an artist can take toward their own fan community. NCT’s courage shows that idols can absolutely help redirect their fans’ behavior and contribute to building a healthier fan culture. Many fans also pointed out that although fandoms frequently engage in online fan wars, K-pop artists themselves generally have close relationships and a great deal of respect for one another.

Witnessing this situation, ARMYs shared a variety of interesting reactions: 

- Literally so embarrαѕѕing. The idols are completely disowning their fans' childish behavior. Even they couldn't stand the cringe of their own fandom, so they had to step up and apologize.

- Oh poor things, their fandom is obsessed with BTS day and night, and their faves are just sitting there dancing to BTS songs

- Oh, poor things, I swear, it turns out the team had nothing to do with their sick fans. I felt so sorry for them

- Imagine wasting your energy and time  trending #BTSdisband all day only just to watch your faves celebrate their 10th anniversary dancing to a BTS song like it’s the national anthem

- Just embarrαѕѕing for nctzens. Kpop stans need to understand that these idols will always love BTS I thought they had understood given how absolutely everyone was doing the hooligan challenge but I guess no

- I said wait for karma to deliver, and kpoppies are not going to like it. See kpoppies spend their whole life hating on our guys, meanwhile their fav think our guys are the coolest, the best

- I think SM has finally understood what is the power of BTS . That's why first they copied 2.0 and now the challenge. No hate to the artist he is dancing really well To all people who wanted bts to disband just keep dreaming

- Gotta admit, he's clean with it. I guess this confirms that SM stopped that weird thing to treat BTS like Voldemort

- Fans are really out of touch with reality. Displaying their vile and hate knowing fully well they somehow represent the artists they stan. Even their idols know their places and know to respect their elders. Just these fans behind keyboard setting up these idols for no reason.

- They are trying to cope in the comments “ooo he out did them don’t end bts like that”. It’s so embarrαѕѕing