BTS's Jungkook apologizes for wearing 'Make Tokyo Great Again' hat, says he didn't know its political meaning: ‘It has been disposed of'
BTS's Jungkook sparked surprise and later controversy during his first public appearance after being discharged from the military. Earlier in the day, several photos claiming he would join J-Hope for the finale of his HOPE ON THE STAGE world tour had circulated online, with many unsure if they were real, especially after one edit included Jin. However, once official images confirmed Jungkook's participation, another detail drew unexpected attention.
During the rehearsals, the singer was seen wearing a hat with the slogan 'Make Tokyo Great Again,' which many fans associated with the politically charged 'Make America Great Again' phrase. After the image went viral, Jungkook issued a heartfelt apology, explaining that he was unaware of the hat's political implications. He also shared that the hat has since been discarded.
Jungkook issues an apology for wearing the controversial hat
Jungkook took to the fan platform Weverse to issue a heartfelt apology following the backlash. In his statement, the Seven singer expressed deep regret, saying, 'I sincerely apologize for the disappointment and inconvenience caused to many people.'
He acknowledged his mistake, admitting, 'I wasn't good enough; I was careless,' and emphasized that he did not fully confirm the phrase's political and historical meaning before wearing it.
He added, 'From now on, I will think more deeply and act one by one,' assuring fans and the public that the hat had been 'disposed of immediately.' Jungkook concluded his message with a simple but firm, 'Once again, I'm sorry,' vowing to accept the criticism and learn from the experience.
ARMYs rally behind Jungkook: 'You don't need to apologise'
The hat incident has now ignited fan wars across X and other social media platforms, with some rival fandoms criticizing Jungkook and questioning how he could be unaware of the phrase's connotations, especially given his fluency in English and experience releasing a full-length English album. Critics argue that such oversight feels careless for someone of his global stature.
However, BTS's loyal fandom, ARMY, has come out in full force to defend him. Many emphasised that the backlash is disproportionate and that honest mistakes shouldn't be weaponised. 'He doesn't owe anyone a fan war,' one user wrote, while another stressed that Jungkook's actions post-incident—his swift apology and disposal of the hat—reflect maturity and accountability.
As of now, hashtags like #WeLoveYouJungkook and #YouDontNeedToApologize are trending on X, flooding the platform with love and reassurance that no matter the noise, they'll continue to stand by him.
fuck man. first sasaeng, now apologising for a fucking hat? he just barely out from military, who ever made jungkook freaking uncomfortable again, COME TO THE FRONT pic.twitter.com/reqyND3CKe
The moment Jungkook saw people assuming stuff that wasn't intended he apologized sincerely&reflected, discarded the hat, didn't wait for bighit to release a statement, thats the kind of person that he is, fk everyone who was twisting this situation to push their personal hatred.
Sigh.. Yea the political turmoil surrounding that hat is triggering for a lot of people, especially right now. But to sit here and spread lies about him is so evil. That hat is satirical and mocks the original. I beg people to leave Jungkook alone.
it's okay Jungkook :( he didn't know, and he apologized. Please let this go know, y'all are so obsessed. "The hat was disposed of immediately" !!! pic.twitter.com/pavK5fC5uS
Meanwhile, Jungkook recently became the target of a disturbing sasaeng (obsessive fan) incident. According to Korean media outlets, a Chinese woman in her 30s attempted to trespass into his home on the very day he was discharged from the military. She was later arrested.
As for BTS, six out of seven members have now completed their military service. Suga, who has been serving as a public service worker, is set to be discharged on June 2, paving the way for the group's long-awaited full-member comeback.
For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
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