BTSs performance on a Japanese TV show has been cancelled, amid controversy over a t-shirt worn by Jimin.
The K-pop band were due to perform on Asahis Music Station today (9 November), but their appearance was cancelled, allegedly over a picture of Jimin wearing a shirt depicting the US atomic bombing of Japan.
A statement from Asahi read: The t-shirt that one of the members wore made headlines and became controversial. The producers asked the intention behind the t-shirt and we were in the process of coming to a settlement with the record label.
However, unfortunately, we ultimately decided to postpone their appearance. We sincerely apologise to the viewers who were looking forward to their appearance.
It is believed that Jimin wore the shirt last year.
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The top reads: Patriotism OurHistory Liberation Korea, and features a photo of the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima and another picture of the Korean people celebrating their Independence Day on 15 August 1945.
Defenders of BTS and Jimin claimed that the shirt wasnt disrespectful to the Japanese people, and was simply a celebration of the defeat of the Japanese empire and the resulting independence of Korea.
However, there has been some criticism of the shirt by a number of Japanese ARMYs, with one person writing: Why am i just now hearing about Jimin wearing a shirt with the atomic bomb on it??? as a fellow ARMY, this is unforgivable. Japan was right to cancel all Japanese activities in regards to BTS.
After BTS cancelled their flights to Japan, the designer behind the t-shirt issued an apology.
Lee Kwang Jae said: I did not include that part to mock Japan. I did it to express the historic truth and timing that after the atomic bomb was detonated, Japans unconditional surrender led to independence.
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After I found out, I was very flustered and apologetic. I had no intention to promote anti-Japanese sentiment, and so Im very sorry towards BTS.
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The shirt has since sold out.
BTS recently dropped the MV for the Japanese version of Airplane pt 2.
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