BIG MUSIC reacts to BTS RM’s recent controversy, sparks outrage

bts leader RM‘s recent controversy has landed GREAT MUSIC in hot water.

Recently, a Japanese news paper, Shukan Bunshun, reported that RM was seen smoking in non-smoking public areas and littering the Shibuya area during his short stay in Japan. This report sparked massive public criticism of the idol.

BTS’s RM is reportedly caught smoking and littering in public spaces

Despite the spiraling controversy, neither RM nor his label directly addressed the issue, sparking even further frustration. However, on April 23 KST iMBC published a report claiming that BIGHIT MUSIC gave a statement on this issue.

According to the report, the label did not apologize for the incident, but instead encouraged media outlets not to publish articles, including the paparazzi shots originally provided by Shukan Bunshun.

BIGHIT’s handling of this situation is also disappointing. When news of the incident first surfaced, the statement Big Hit provided to iMBC Entertainment was not an apology acknowledging the situation; rather it took an ambiguous stance: ‘We are currently addressing the matter. As the photos in question were taken domestically by paparazzi outlets, we request that media organizations refrain from publishing articles based on them. We convey the same point of view to every media outlet we contact.’

– iMBC

This vague response from BIGHIT MUSIC fueled netizens’ anger over the situation.

• “BIG must have a rough time too. Lol. If only the idol hadn’t pulled such a lame little stunt in the first place…”
• “All they have to do is say ‘I’m sorry.’
• “But it’s actually surprising that they don’t suck at Japan.”
• “LOL.”
• “Wow, it looks like they’re asking for something not to be reported, not actually turned into an article. That’s fascinating!”

bighit be setting up those men even more lmfao https://t.co/FNxz9dRQaP

— c (@KTHVlBES) April 23, 2026

I’m sorry I don’t usually say this but a lot about them including the company feels off I almost thought they were just desperate https://t.co/3l8AJd1PmM

— kinger (@longevousway) April 23, 2026

problem is not even the fact that Namjoon smoked in the non-smoking area. It’s the fact that he made a female employee kneel in front of him to clean up his own mess. This is truly disgusting and shows what kind of person he is. https://t.co/JkyHAo1tYG

— kooromi (@kuromix913) April 23, 2026

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