BTS’s J-Hope Faces Fan Backlash After Posting With Pharrell Williams

ARMYs are disappointed by BTS J-Hope‘s latest Instagram post.

J-Hope | @uarmyhope/Instagram

J-Hope, who is expected to be discharged from mandatory military service next month, recently shared a couple of selfies via his Instagram account. The selfies included American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer Pharrell Williams. In the caption, J-Hope indicated he and Pharrell might have collaborated on a project to be released in 2025.

RM, who has been an outspoken fan of Pharrell for years and even collaborated for an exclusive Rolling Stone interview, also commented on the post, indicating that he is looking forward to it.

Next year please come faster

— RM

Despite the two BTS members’ excitement, the fandom had mixed reactions.

While Pharrell is known especially for his music, some ARMYs speculate the collaboration is related to Louis Vuitton. Pharrell is the artistic director for the men’s line, and J-Hope is a global brand ambassador.

UARRMYHOPE POSTED
" CANT WAIT FOR 2025"
PHARELL JHOPE ???
AND NOW PHARELL IS LOUIS VUITTON ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OMG pic.twitter.com/ASdoh8s6EX

— Pax⁷🐳「 -ㅅ-「💜 ¹¹_아포방포-2025⁷⁼¹ (@paxtannies2025) September 11, 2024

hobi, pharrell and louis vuitton, what’s cooking?? pic.twitter.com/W3HNorWyyP

— jayvee (@uarmyvibe) September 11, 2024

Regardless of the type of collab, many ARMYs wish J-Hope wouldn’t associate himself with Pharrell Williams. This is due to Pharrell’s ties to Zionism.

Since October 2023, at least 41,020 Palestinians, including nearly 16,500 children, have been killed, according to Al Jazeera. More than 94,925 people have been injured, and over 10,000 are missing in Israel’s war on Gaza, with Palestinians starved, displaced, and having lost their homes, families, and friends.

Still, many stand by Israel’s actions, claiming it was justified due to Hamas’ attacks on October 7. According to Wikipedia, these attacks “killed 1,139 people, including 764 civilians and 373 Israeli security personnel. A further 251 persons were taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel to the Gaza Strip.”

Yet, others feel Hamas’ actions were also in retaliation to the long history of Israel’s mistreatment of Palestine, as Israel is technically illegally occupying Palestinian land. According to a 2017 Amnesty article, “For the last 50 years, Israel has been forcing thousands of Palestinians off their land, occupying and illegally using it to create settlements that exclusively house Jewish Israeli settlers.”

Due to this ongoing war that many now agree is a genocide of Palestine, many ARMYs wish for the BTS members to have no ties to Zionism. This includes not collaborating with persons who have stood beside Israel.

Can't wait for 2025 but not for the collab or any project with that zionist :( @BTS_twt

HYBE DIVEST FROM ZIONISM#HYBEDivestFromZionism#하이브는시오니스트를토출하라 https://t.co/XwgerjVjav

— tya (@_yourwinterbear) September 11, 2024

pharell williams personally helped the israeli military raise $60 million to displace and murder palestinian children https://t.co/w9LejoQnJ7

— beeksy (@beeksyy) September 11, 2024

Nah we don’t want any zionist collabs especially in 2025! Thankyou and @BTS_twt please scrap that collab! This constant association with zionist brands and artists is not it! I love you guys and that’s why i am feeling so disappointed with your actions! https://t.co/VzNcLvApw2

— J⁷ 🍉🐳 (@V_MIN_KOOK_13) September 11, 2024

Pharrell Williams hasn’t simply expressed Zionist beliefs like some artists. In 2018, Pharrell was a special music guest at the annual FIDF Western Region Gala, celebrating Israel’s 70th anniversary. The event, which included several celebrities in attendance, reportedly raised $60 million USD for the Israeli military (also known as the Israeli Defense Force or Israeli Occupation Force) as part of a fundraiser. The Israeli military is responsible for many atrocities that netizens can’t ignore.

Pharrell Williams is not someone who just expressed Zionist beliefs. @Pharrell has raised $60 million USD for the IOF in 2018 to kill Palestinians. SIXTY MILLION USD for the army that kills, rapes, tortures palestinians and has been committing a genocide and is open about it.… pic.twitter.com/ok1MeIF5DF

— ARMY for Palestine (@ARMY4Palestine) September 11, 2024

Many ARMYs are disappointed to see J-Hope happily associate with Pharrell Williams, knowing what Pharrell has supported.

No because imagine your fav person and artist. Your comfort person collaborating with someone – a Zionist – who raised money to k!ll your people and your best friend, turn your life into hell. And deprives you of your most basic rights. Like I'm so close to crying. Never felt…

— Taleen⁷ | Gazawi | Check pinned (@tallume_07) September 11, 2024

a lot of you need to grow up and actually start tracing consequences of people's actions back to them because pharrell williams has voluntarily helped raise millions for the iof which is committing genocide. that baby whose half blown up head you saw? he helped directly fund it. https://t.co/Yeh6mLlJGj

— an🍉 (@moonchildbichen) September 11, 2024

Consequently, ARMYs are continuing to trend #HYBEDivestFromZionism and #SpeakYourselfBTS via X (formerly Twitter). Some have attempted to get the BTS members to speak up for Palestine for nearly a year. The fandom has also been urging BTS’s company, HYBE, to divest from Zionism due to Scooter Braun‘s heavy involvement.

Dear, j-hope @BTS_twt

Kindly consider to delete ur photos with @Pharrell , one of the "Friends of IOF" artist who gained $60million to help 🇮🇱 killing Palestinian people. Anything u said about 2025, hope there's no zios involvement then.#SpeakYourselfBTS#HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/iDGuLGDAf7

— a y . (@kucinggendut__) September 11, 2024

Hey Hoseok, did you know that Pharell Williams raised over $60 Million for a war machine? Collaborating with him means endorsing his crimes.

Please reconsider this and delete your photos with him.@BTS_twt#SpeakYourselfBTS#HYBEDivestFromZionism pic.twitter.com/oMvaSVsKGj

— ari 𓂆 (@falastinerkive) September 11, 2024

While the BTS members might not be able to make their company remove Braun, they could choose who not to collab with. So, many ARMYs are urging J-Hope to reconsider his association with Pharrell Williams.

Pharrel is an IOF funder. why would anyone associate themselves with someone who is loudly supporting the terr0rist occupation soldiers. @BTS_twt please educate yourself and take a stand to be against the occupation state and zionism ideology as a whole. https://t.co/IWkgvQ5ZLm

— na 🍉 check pinned 📌 (@najungie) September 11, 2024

RETWEET AND REPLY

J-Hope please reconsider your ties to Pharell Williams, as he raises money to an army that kills Palestinians evey day. Your Palestinian fans are hurt by your actions and the deserve the respect.#SpeakYourselfBTS#HYBEDivestFromZionist

— ari 𓂆 (@falastinerkive) September 11, 2024

Many of the BTS members’ recent collaborations have triggered divided reactions within the fandom due to artists’ Zionism. Read more below.

Zionism And More: BTS Jimin’s Collaboration With Sofia Carson Divides The Fandom

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