Old interview clips of BTS discussing the now-iconic “ending fairy” trend have resurfaced online and are drawing heavy criticism from international K-Pop fans. The remarks, which have circulated before, are once again sparking debate over who truly popularized the concept.
In the resurfaced video, Suga claimed the idea wasn’t popularised when BTS first tried it, mentioning performances of “Boy With Luv” and “Dionysus.”
THE STRAIGHT UP LIES 💀??? pic.twitter.com/XwlIoVDp5X
— T🎭 (@Wakeazul) August 25, 2025
While the viral post only contains screenshots of the comments, the full clip goes as follows:
Suga: When we did it, the concept of ending fairy.. it wasn’t a proper thing back then. I still remember when we did it, it was during “Boy With Luv” and “Dionysus.”
Jungkook: We were basically the origin of it.
Suga: That was when it became a thing.
Jungkook: We did it during “ON” too.
K-Pop fans were quick to dispute the narrative. Historically, the phrase “ending fairy” first appeared in EXO’s fandom and was linked to Xiumin. The term originally referred to idol reactions caught on camera during the prize-giving segments at the close of a broadcast. Xiumin earned the nickname after his expressions at the end of music shows gained attention from fans.
This literally was 12 years ago ,like in 2013 hello ? https://t.co/3BYShSiWjz pic.twitter.com/KI7rXZMxQQ
— ɐᴉɹɐ🦋🍊 (@exo9skdccblsx) August 25, 2025
Over time, the meaning shifted. One of the earliest and most notable examples came when I.O.I’s Jung Chaeyeon went viral for her close-up after performing “Into The New World” on Produce 101.
no matter how hard bg stans try to colonize who created/popularized ending fairy, it will always be HER… you can't rewrite herstory. Jung Chaeyeon, you are an icon pic.twitter.com/xGd4SDRLbZ
— chimatburat (@fromeme_9) March 20, 2025
With the clips making the rounds once again, the group is facing renewed backlash as fans argue the credit belongs elsewhere.
Next they’ll say kpop didn’t exist until they made it https://t.co/L2j0RndOTC
— ًً (@kwsaerin) August 25, 2025
idk but why this man is so arrogant ? its seems like is whole personality is being haughty and look down on people https://t.co/GhLyPXfotR
— 𝒞ℳ (@Callmee___) August 25, 2025
the disrespect to xiumin (exo) who started it and then chaeyeon (ioi) who popularized ending fairies pic.twitter.com/qCs9hlP6wm https://t.co/ajI2kVXvVU
— ミ☆ (@bIinksupreme) August 25, 2025
They stay taking credit for what women started https://t.co/xjxFsCgs1V
— just!ne (@bjayfied) August 25, 2025