“She didn’t know about The Astronaut” — Fans slam Z100 New York show host over ignorance about BTS’ Jin and Coldplay’s long-standing bond

On December 10, 2024, Z100 New York dropped an exclusive interview with BTS' Jin, wherein the Grammy-nominated artist talked about his maiden solo album, Happy, his friendship with Coldplay, and more.

However, fans of BTS took to social media to criticize the radio host interviewing Jin, for her apparent ignorance about the close relationship between the BTS member and Coldplay. The incident in question occurred during a discussion of the artist's musical collaborations. The host asked the idol if he had ever watched Coldplay perform live, saying:

"I love Coldplay, do you love Coldplay too? Have you ever seen them live?"

In response, The Astronaut singer-songwriter narrated how he had previously worked with Coldplay, also mentioning that he performed live with the British band during their Music of the Spheres tour in 2022.

"I've seen them. I've been together with them on the stage. When Coldplay played in Argentina, I went on stage as their special guest. I have a song called 'The Astronaut' which is a song co-written by Coldplay. I performed the song with Chris Martin," Jin replied to the host.

Fans were quick to point out the host's lack of awareness of the K-pop idol's work with Coldplay; a partnership that dates back to their 2021 collaboration on BTS' My Universe—which also earned both bands a Grammy nomination—and Jin's solo single, The Astronaut, co-written with Coldplay's Chris Martin.

The BTS ARMY's frustration with Z100’s host stemmed from a perceived lack of recognition for Jin’s artistic contributions and his relationship with Coldplay. Subsequently, many took to social media to highlight Jin's achievements and questioned if the show host even did "basic research" before interviewing him. One fan wrote:

"She didn’t know about the astronaut? But she loves Coldplay? Don’t even make sense."

Fans also stated that such oversights by prominent journalists diminish the efforts of global artists and perpetuate a lack of awareness about non-Western musicians.

"Where’s the professionalism where you should be aware of the works the artist you’re interviewing has done. like isnt that basic research?" one fan questioned.

"Great job as a journalist: inviting an artist and knowing nothing about his work... pitiful," another fan said.

"Is this journalist living under a rock? How could she not know about Jin performing with Coldplay in Argentina? That's embarrassing and really poor staff work. Honestly, she looks like a fool. What station is this?!" one other fan retorted.

Others called the Z100 New York host "unprofessional" and said she lacked "effort" at doing her job well.

"What an unprofessional host! She didn’t give effort to do her job well," one fan commented.

"That woman is just…. Lazy! Like honey there’s my universe and the astronaut all over the place. A little research don’t hurt!" another fan remarked.

"I’m sorry but did she really not know Jin and Coldplays history?? Or is she playing stupid? Like wtf?? Sorry but that baffles me. Like, you are a journalist. You should be doing your research girl! Be ffr," one other fan wrote.

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More about Jin’s solo album and other collaborations

Released on November 15, 2024, HAPPY marked Jin’s first solo album, showcasing his personal style and creative vision. The record features six tracks, including the lead single, Running Wild, which comes along with a touching music video, and Heart on the Window, a duet with Red Velvet’s Wendy.

The tracklist is as follows:

1. Running Wild
2. I’ll Be There
3. Heart on the Window (featuring Wendy)
4. I Will Come to You
5. Falling
6. Another Level

The album explored themes of happiness, love, and resilience. The Grammy-nominated artist expressed, in a Billboard interview dated November 15, that HAPPY is a deeply personal project, allowing him to convey his emotions directly, without the collaborative input typically involved in BTS releases.

Furthermore, the BTS idol launched his own reality show, RUN JIN, on the official BANGTANTV YouTube channel. The show includes episodes where he engaged in outdoor adventures like hiking on the Hallasan Mountain in Jeju Island, competing with high school kids, serving at a kid's cafeteria, and more.

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In other news, the Falling singer-songwriter secured major endorsements with luxury brands such as the French jewelry brand FRED and Gucci. In the 88 years following FRED's inception, the BTS vocalist served as the brand's first-ever global ambassador.