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BTS' RM recently received mixed reactions from netizens for being named as one of the male role models for the Stop Violence Against Women campaign by The Pixel Project. On December 4, 2024, The Pixel Project, an online NGO working to end violence against women, unveiled its 5th edition of the '16 Male Role Models Helping to Stop Violence Against Women' series.
As per The Pixel Project, RM was named 9th on the male role model list alongside prominent figures including Benedict Cumberbatch, Bad Bunny, Rahul Bose, and more. The organization highlighted steps taken by certain celebrities and activists to promote gender equality.
However, netizens have criticized and accused RM for not addressing fans and followers who allegedly pass misogynistic and hateful comments against female K-pop idols on social media. BTS fans came in defense of RM mentioning the measures he took to unlearn his mistakes from the past. The fans also highlighted his support of feministic values and ongoing efforts to promote feminist artists.
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"WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU NAMJOON”- a fan said
"Look what happens when you learn from your mistakes ... always so proud of our Leader,"- a user said.
"Respect, babe! To grow in a misogynistic system, but take effort to unlearn certain socially ingrained perspectives to try be a better human and a wonderful representative of your gender is worthy of respect!"- another user added.
On the other hand, other netizens implied that Kim Namjoon was not qualified to be on the list and expressed their thoughts on X.
"He cannot even call out their fans for bullying,"- a user said.
"This man didn’t speak up for issues like the nth room, new jeans, not even has he called out his very misogynistic fandom which is probably the simplest thing he can do,"- another user said.
"Yet remain silent when his fans harassing women every minute of every day. What an impact he had made,"- a fan said.
BTS' RM reflection on past misogynistic lyrics controversy, promoting feminist authors and more
In the early years of BTS' debut, the group was hit with backlash for using misogynistic lyrics that objectified women in their songs War of Hormones and Converse High. RM and the members acknowledged their shortcomings and lack concerning their problematic lyrics.
They reviewed the songs by women's studies professors and broadened their horizons in the issue to understand it better and not continue the mistake again. Moving forward in 2017, during the VLIVE session, RM shared the books shedding light on feminist ideas that he had read, including 'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982.' The BTS leader about the book said:
"The book's implications were unlike any other, and I was impressed. It's a thought-provoking book."
In 2021, RM was one of the celebrities who was singled out by an anti-feminist website, calling him a 'verified feminist' for his views on gender equality. Additionally, in 2022, the exhibition hosted by LACMA and the Korea Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the INDIGO singer also served as an audio guide for some of the favorite art pieces at the exhibition.
One of the pieces includes the self-portrait of Rha Hye-sok, who is renowned to be a feminist pioneer in Korea. In the biography titled Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS, RM addressed the misogynistic lyrics controversy and how he reflected on it. He said,
"About this kind of concept and awareness, I have come to think that as someone living in the 2020s, it's something you come up against at least once. And because I was criticized early on, I could recognize the problem sooner."
In the book he also spoke about the Gangnam Station Murder, where the perpetrator stabbed a woman to death reasoning that he was always ignored by women. With this incident, Kim Namjoon highlighted women's perspective and why it was crucial to advocate more about stopping crime against women.
In other news, BTS' RM is currently fulfilling his national duties in the military and is expected to be relieved in 2025 along with band members Suga, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.
