Members of the K-pop band were seen wearing hats with Nazi-related symbols and a shirt depicting the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
The management company for BTS issued an apology on Tuesday after photos surfaced showing members of the world-famous K-pop group wearing shirts depicting the U. S. atomic bomb attack on Japan and hats with Nazi symbols.
In a statement, Big Hit Entertainment said that the agency and its artists do not condone war or use of atomic weapons. They also noted that they are against “political extremism and totalitarian beliefs including Nazism.”
The company apologized to “anyone who may have experienced distress and discomfort by witnessing the association of our artists with imagery related to atomic bombings” and “anyone affected by totalitarian regimes.”
Jimin, a vocalist for the group who was seen wearing the offensive shirt, also vaguely addressed the controversy during a live performance at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday.
“It saddens me to think that not only you ARMY [the name for BTS fans], but many people around the world must’ve been surprised recently because of the many circumstances,” Jimin said, according to Billboard. “I believe there will be many more opportunities for us to meet each other. I won’t be able to forget my first Tokyo Dome performance with you today.”
Last Friday, a Japanese television show canceled a live BTS performance after photos surfaced showing Jimin wearing a shirt that depicts the U.
