BTS' V Draws Online Criticism as Latest TikTok Sparks Cultural Appropriation Debate

BTS member V is facing criticism on social media after a recent TikTok video prompted accusations of cultural appropriation and renewed debate over how K-pop artists engage with Black culture. Kim Tae-Hyung, also known as V of BTS, celebrates TIRTIR's "Radiate In Red" Campaign on November 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Unique Nicole/Getty Images As per Koreaboo, V shared the video on TikTok before it was reposted Aug. 24 by the X account @TheePopCore, which captioned the post, "Taehyung looks insanely cool and fine in a new video." While some users praised the singer's appearance, others mocked his mannerisms and called the performance awkward or "cringy." Other commenters accused V of trying to imitate Black behavior and argued that Korean artists have benefited from Black culture while failing to show adequate respect toward Black people. Some users compared the criticism with past backlash involving other K-pop artists.The comments reflect individual reactions on social media and do not indicate a broader consensus. V and his agency had not publicly responded to the criticism as of today.Read more: BTS Rule a Dark Dystopian World in Fierce New 'Hooligan' Music Video The co...