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On October 6, 2024, BTS’ Taehyung fans expressed outrage over an allegedly controversial interaction between the music streaming platform Deezer and a user on X. The incident began when some antis alleged that Taehyung’s fans were artificially using VPNs (virtual private networks) to inflate his songs' streams.
VPNs allow users to encrypt their data and mask their IP addresses, leading the antis to claim that these fans were engaging in fraudulent activities. One particular user, @chloxbright, tweeted to Deezer, accusing the platform of supporting "fraudulent fan behaviour" by promoting Taehyung’s content. The tweet read,
“V is for VPN. Not @Deezer following this fraudulent fanbase @KTHonDEEZER instead of banning V and his VPN fans.”
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In response, Deezer replied, “We heard you,” which sparked an immediate backlash from the BTS member's fandom. Fans were quick to criticize the platform for what they viewed as an unprofessional response, pointing out that Deezer should have verified the claims instead of casually engaging in baseless accusations.
Many felt that the platform's reply further fueled misinformation, with the hashtag "DeezerApologizeToTaehyung" quickly trending on X. A user on X, @_starangels_ wrote,
"This is is disgusting. This is very unprofessional. How dare you disrespect Taehyung like that and interact with an anti fan account. Deleting won't fix anything. We have the receipts. We demand an apology to Taehyung & his fans. DEEZER APOLOGIZE TO TAEHYUNG."
"Hello as a major streaming platform it's your duty to fact check before falling for trolls'baseless accusations.We have proof that we asked fans never to use any illegal apps to stream on Deezer.We are disappointed at your unprofessional behavior and will uninstall ur App," a fan wrote.
"Hello Deezer, be professional for once, you really failed by not doing any fact checks," an X user mentioned.
"I am in disbelief! A major streaming platform disrespecting their customers and artist, accusing us without any proof and acting in a very unprofessional manner. your employees need to be looked into. Damage has been done! We reserve the right to sue for defamation," a fan remarked.
The streaming platform later removed the tweet in response to the backlash. However, fans continued to demand a formal written apology from Deezer for the inconvenience caused by their previous interaction.
"The post has been deleted but the inconvenience caused to V and harassment towards him cannot undone, will be expecting an apology for this unprofessionalism. @Deezer," a fan commented.
"Apologize to V... this is ridiculous, you can not desrespect him!" another user mentioned.
More updates on BTS' Taehyung's latest activities
The BTS singer has been serving in the South Korean military since December 11, 2023, and is currently part of the Special Duty Team (SDT). He is often seen in his black military uniform.
As of late September 2024, he has been recognized as the most popular Korean musician born after 1990, according to Google data. The idol ranks as the top K-pop artist globally from that generation, with his bandmate Jungkook following closely in second place. On a broader scale, V is ranked 12th among international artists, while Jungkook is at 13th.
Recently, he was seen enjoying his day off at the concert of his Love Wins All co-star, IU, alongside J-hope, much to the delight of fans who were thrilled to see the two idols together again.
On September 18, 2024, Starnews Korea reported that the Singularity singer had been named Instagram's "Most Influential Asian Star in the World," with influencer analysis firm HypeAuditor ranking him 8th among Asian stars in its list of the "Top 1000 Most Influential Influencers in the World."
Taehyung is set to be discharged from military service in June 2025 after an 18-month commitment. He will rejoin his fellow BTS members in the spotlight once they all complete their military duties.
