BTS' Jungkook sparks outrage with ‘Make Tokyo Great Again' hat, brand forced to apologise
BTS' Jungkook found himself at the center of a firestorm this week after a behind-the-scenes photo showed him wearing a cap that read 'Make Tokyo Great Again.' The image, snapped during rehearsals for J-Hope's Hope on the Stage Final at Goyang Sports Complex, triggered swift backlash in South Korea, where tensions over Japan's colonial past remain raw.
The cap, produced by Japanese brand BASICKS, bore an uncanny resemblance to Donald Trump's MAGA slogan — a detail not lost on American fans either. In the U.S., where BTS has a massive following, many were quick to draw parallels to the divisive politics surrounding Trump's anti-immigrant policies, including those impacting Asian-American communities.
BTS Jungkook seen wearing a 'Make Tokyo Great Again' caphttps://t.co/hcwuW3KxGQpic.twitter.com/jfWjGtulpT — pannchoa (@pannchoa) June 13, 2025
Jungkook, just days after his military discharge, wasted no time responding. He posted an apology on Weverse, explaining that he discarded the hat immediately after realising its potential to offend.
Adding fuel to the fire, BASICKS initially celebrated the controversy, boasting on Instagram about the cap selling out and even using Jungkook's image. Hours later, after facing mounting criticism from Korean netizens, the brand issued an apology. 'This design was not intended to convey any political stance; rather, it was an iconic way to express our hopes for a thriving Tokyo fashion scene,' they said, insisting no offense was meant.
The incident also reignited scrutiny of HYBE's handling of scandals. Fans accused the agency of trying to deflect attention, pointing to the sudden resurfacing of old photos of NewJeans members, as tensions rise within HYBE's ranks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
29 minutes ago
- Mint
The US Rethink on Australia Submarines Is China's Win
The White House's review of the Aukus pact — a security arrangement between the US, UK and Australia — is rattling one of Washington's closest alliances, and playing right into China's hands. It sends yet another signal that America First might just mean everyone else alone. First announced by former President Joe Biden in 2021, the multibillion-dollar deal commits Washington and London to help Canberra develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines over a 30-year period. It was designed to help counter Beijing's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Donald Trump's administration has just put those plans in limbo. The review will determine whether Aukus is 'aligned with the president's America First agenda,' the Defense Department said, adding that it's also aimed at making sure allies contribute more to collective security and that the US's defense industrial base can meet domestic needs. These are valid concerns. American submarine production has been plagued by persistent delays and ballooning costs. Elbridge Colby, a top policy adviser who is expected to play a central role in the study, has long warned that the US could end up short on submarines at a critical moment in its deterrence strategy against China. In particular, Colby is worried about a hypothetical conflict around Taiwan. This is yet another example of the White House's pay-to-play approach to global partnerships, and how allies left out in the cold will have to navigate the new environment. 'Regardless of how this review goes, Australia should be reducing its dependence on US weapons and technology,' Michael Shoebridge, founder and director of Strategic Analysis, a Canberra-based political consultancy, told me. 'We are probably slower than others in realizing that America remains our most powerful partner, but we have to do more for ourselves.' European nations have already had a taste of what it means to be a US ally in Trump's world. At the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, Vice President JD Vance chastised participants for not doing enough to bolster collective security. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a similar message to Asian partners at the Shangri-La conference, a regional security summit in Singapore. Countries like Australia, Japan, and South Korea have long relied on America as a security guarantor, but now Washington wants them to carry more of the load and increase military budgets. Meeting with Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines, Hegseth told him that Canberra needs to up its military spending target to 3.5% of GDP. Currently, Australia is on track for about 2.4% by the mid 2030s, and has already committed to additional investment. For Beijing, each move that reduces the Trump administration's influence in the region is welcomed as a sign of disengagement. When Aukus was first announced, China expressed outrage at what it viewed as evidence of Washington's attempts at containment. On Thursday, the foreign ministry repeated its resistance to the pact, adding that it opposes 'anything that amplifies the risk of nuclear proliferation and exacerbates arms race.' A retooling of the treaty will reinforce the narrative Beijing has been pushing that the US is an untrustworthy partner. In all likelihood, Aukus will survive, but perhaps not in its current form. Canberra may be forced to make compromises, and offer concessions to Washington, including raising its defense capabilities. But even if the public rhetoric is one of long-term cooperation, Australia should begin weighing its options carefully. It could work more closely with other partners. In May, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, raised the prospect of a formal defense agreement between the trading bloc and Australia. While in reality this would be challenging given the number of countries involved, partnerships like this are worth exploring and should be pursued. The country has already begun strengthening defense ties with Japan through reciprocal access agreements, and worked with India under the Quad framework on maritime security and military exercises. These steps offer a foundation for a more multipolar security strategy, one that doesn't always lean so heavily on Washington's shifting priorities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to meet Trump on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting in Canada, where they're likely to tackle trade and defense spending. This is a golden opportunity to impress upon the American president the benefits of committing to Aukus — chief among them, maintaining American influence in the Indo-Pacific. Whether the US leader reaffirms the pact or reshapes it, this review should serve as a wake-up call. For Australia, it's a reminder that even the closest alliances are only as stable as the political moment that defines them. More From Bloomberg Opinion: America will sell Australia between three and five Virginia-class, conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, with the first deliveries expected as soon as the early 2030s. In the longer term, Australia plans to build its own next-generation submarines in partnership with the UK, using American technology, to be completed in the 2040s. This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Karishma Vaswani is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia politics with a special focus on China. Previously, she was the BBC's lead Asia presenter and worked for the BBC across Asia and South Asia for two decades. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
33 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Donald Trump's Hollywood cameo mercilessly mocked during ‘No Kings' protest: ‘You s***ed'
President Donald Trump was mercilessly mocked during the 'No Kings' protest on Saturday. A protester took a brutal dig at the president's cameo in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, holding a sign that read: 'You su**ed in Home Alone 2'. Trump made a seven-minute cameo in the film alongside a 12-year-old Macaulay Culkin, who was playing Kevin McCallister. The sign went viral during one of the thousands of 'No Kings' protests that took place across the country. Organizers said over five million people took part in the protests. The demonstrations took place on Trump's birthday and the US Flag Day. The president hosted the largest US military parade in decades on his 79th birthday. Read More: What is 'Theratrumpy'? Old man at 'No Kings' protest in California beats Trump doll to get his anger out; Watch However, his celebrations were marred by hundreds of thousands of 'No Kings' protestors in the streets of metros including New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Atlanta. Trump, speaking at an event, warned US' adversaries of "total and complete" defeat, with Washington increasingly at risk of entanglement in Israel's conflict with Iran. "Time and again, America's enemies have learned that if you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you," Trump said. Several celebrities also took part in the protests, including prominent Trump critics - Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon, Lin‑Manuel Miranda, Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington, Amy Schumer, Padma Lakshmi, and Alec Baldwin. In Washington, DC, President Trump's parade featured roughly 6,600 troops, 128–150 tanks and armored vehicles, 50 aircraft, and fireworks. Read More: 'No Kings' protestors rally ahead of Trump's parade: 'No crown for clown' In Salt Lake City, at least one person was critically injured and three people were taken into custody, police said. Meanwhile, a Democratic lawmaker and her husband were killed in Minnesota on Saturday. Trump was quick to condemn the attacks outside Minneapolis in which former state speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, while another state lawmaker and his wife were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. The suspect, identified as Vance Boelter, is still at large.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Netanyahu's family home in Caesarea hit in Iran's fresh missile attack on Israel
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Iran launched a volley of missiles against Israel amid the ongoing conflict and targeted key sites in the country. Tehran's latest onslaught included a strike near Prime Minister Netanyahu's family residence in Caesarea. According to Israeli media, Iranian strikes also targeted a power station in Israeli military said on Sunday (June 15) that it had detected 50 rockets launched from Iran toward the cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv. The missile launch was confirmed by Iran's Tasnim news agency, which described it as 'a new wave' of missile attacks against Israeli to Palestine Chronicle, air raid sirens were activated across central and northern Israel, including in the West Bank settlements, the Golan Heights, the Galilee, and the Haifa the Iranian missile attack, the Israeli Home Front Command issued instructions for residents in affected areas, asking them to remain near shelters as air defense systems engaged the incoming missiles. A fire was also reported in the southern Golan Heights following an the death toll rose on Sunday (June 15) as the exchange of missiles between Israel and Iran continued for a third consecutive day, with Israel warning that worse is to come. Israel targeted Iran's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran and sites it alleged were associated with Iran's nuclear program, while Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defenses and slammed into buildings deep inside Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country's total death toll to 13. The country's main international airport and airspace remained closed for a third Iran, Israeli strikes have killed at least 406 people and wounded another 654, according to Washington-based human rights activists. Iran's government has not offered overall casualty figures. The region braced for a drawn-out conflict after Israel's strikes hit nuclear and military facilities, killing several senior generals and top nuclear Donald Trump said the U.S. had 'nothing to do with the attack on Iran' and warned Tehran to expect 'the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces' if it retaliates against the United States. Meanwhile, a US official claimed that Trump vetoed a plan presented by Israel to Washington to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali tension surged in the Middle East after Israel's surprise bombardment of Iranian nuclear and military sites on Friday killed several top generals and nuclear scientists.
