“I HOPE YOONGI WILL SEE THIS” — Fans react to Brazil’s Maracana stadium reportedly turning purple in support of BTS’ Suga amidst ongoing DUI case

BTS' Min Yoongi aka Suga has been receiving tremendous support from his fans around the world. On August 26, 2024, the BTS ARMY retweeted a post by the official account, @maracana, where the stadium was lit with purple lights.

For the unversed, Maracana is a football stadium in Brazil, officially named the Jornalist Mário Filho Stadium.

Fans were stunned and reckoned that the Brazil fandom of BTS coordinated with the Maracana stadium staff to show their support for Min Yoongi aka Suga. Amidst the BTS rapper's ongoing DUI incident, the controversy gained international attention.

Global press like the Paris Match and more called out Korean media outlets for allegedly humiliating and targeting Suga for riding an electric kickboard.

Suga was charged with drunk driving an electric kickboard/scooter on August 6, 2024. The mobility device had a maximum speed of 30 km/hr—equivalent to a bicycle's speed.

Since then, the rapper has been subjected to immense public scrutiny and alleged media targeting. Additionally, news outlet JTBC aired a fake CCTV clip, alleging the rapper was speeding.

Meanwhile, the global BTS fandom came forward to show support towards Suga. One fan wrote,

"OHMYGOD THIS IS SO GOOD. I HOPE YOONGI WILL SEE THIS. THANK U SO MUCH, BRAZILIAN ARMYS!"

Others expressed gratitude to the Brazilian ARMYs as well for showing their support for the BTS rapper with an iconic gesture.

"B-armys will forever have the crown. No one has ever showed up for bangtan like b-army," one fan wrote.

"This means a lot. Thank you, B-ARMY! Praying for a barricade w/ M&G and soundcheck concert ticket for all of you," one other fan wrote.

"I need people to understand that this is stadium is like the biggest most famous stadium in the country it’s literally a national patrimony," another fan commented.

Fans also praised Maracana stadium staff for lighting up the stadium in purple.

"The largest stadium in Brazil lit up its lights purple in support of BTS and Yoongi," one fan said.

"Oh the whole world loves you yoongi," another fan added.

"Turning stadiums into purple is a powerful image because that's the physical manifestation of the magic shop for BTS and ARMY," one other fan remarked.

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More on BTS Suga's DUI controversy

On August 23, Suga appeared at the Yongsan Police Station for further investigation. Despite the police prohibition, the Korean media gathered outside the precinct hours before the rapper's arrival to subject him to a photo line.

On August 25, Suga posted a handwritten apology letter on Weverse again and wrote,

"I would like to apologize again to you with shame. I deeply apologize for the disappointment and hurt of my misbehavior to my fans and everyone who loves me. [...] I feel so sorry and painful that it's hard to express because it's causing damage to the members and the team. I'm sorry that the members who always trusted me have a hard time because of me."

Notably, a photo line is an illegal and unethical Korean media practice where they subject an individual to a humiliating public trial. It is allegedly deemed a violation of human rights. Yoongi arrived at the precinct and apologized to the press for drunk driving an electric kickboard/scooter.

According to MBC news, his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level was at 0.08% as per the police report. However, later several media outlets such as Koreaboo, The Korea Times, Yonhap, JTBC, and more reported that his BAC was 0.227%, which further infuriated the fandom. Nevertheless, the second BAC level wasn't confirmed by the police.

Korean media also highlight the absence of a license plate on Suga's electric kickboard/scooter. On August 26, TV Chosun reported that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport declared after a thorough investigation that Suga's mobility device did not require a license plate.

Police confirmed that Suga will not be summoned for question any further and the case has been closed.

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In other news, amidst his DUI controversy, the BTS ARMY showed their love and support for Min Yoongi by charting his songs at the top of iTunes. He became the most consumed Asian act on all digital platforms for two consecutive days and became the Top 1 on the Worldwide & European iTunes song charts with Polar Night as of August 26.