Orphan Children Allegedly “Bribed” Into Voting For BTS’s Jimin, Sparking Viral Outrage

On August 7, the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) nominees were announced.

Like previous years, several K-Pop acts were nominated in different categories, including “Best K-Pop” and “Song Of The Year.” As always, the nominations have sparked some discussion and debate.

#VMA Best K-Pop Nominees

🚀 @aespa_official: "Whiplash"
🚀 @jennierubyjane: "like JENNIE"
🚀 #JIMIN @BTS_twt: "Who"
🚀 #JISOO @officialBLISSOO: "earthquake"
🚀 #LISA @wearelloud ft. @DojaCat & @raye: "Born Again"
🚀 #ROSE @numberonehq: "toxic till the end"
🚀 @Stray_Kids: "Chk…

— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 5, 2025

“2025 MTV VMAs” Nominations For “Best K-Pop” Become A Target Of Criticism

Voting for the “Best K-Pop” category, and most others, is done on the VMAs website, with fans being able to vote for their favorite artist ten times a day.

| MTV

Sometimes, fans will get creative in order to figure out how to get their faves more votes, like asking non-fan friends and family. However, a method of voting done by a fan of BTS‘s Jimin has sparked viral outrage.

BTS’s Jimin | BIGHIT Music

A post on X with over 1.2 million views expressed surprise over the content of the tweet, calling it a “new low.” According to the images, an account on X shared they had gotten additional votes for Jimin from children in an orphanage, who they visited and gave snacks to.

I actually GASPED.. This is a new low pic.twitter.com/6La8WcPrVK

— liv (@chaebolpussy) August 20, 2025

A second post stated that the kids continued to vote without being asked to after the OP’s initial visit.

The OP of the tweets, after some initial reactions, shared that they had been given permission by the orphanage’s staff in response to accusations of child exploitation.

| @Honey22377/X

Despite this, many reacted to the post with shock, explaining that providing vulnerable children with something in exchange for voting was wrong.

Nobody in this position, ESPECIALLY if they're younger, would say no to doing something like this bc they might fear losing whatever you're providing them with, even if it's just pizza. Offering ORPHANS delicious food in exchange for them voting for your fave is DIABOLICAL https://t.co/HfINKfpQgn pic.twitter.com/9IiFQKVC8L

— ☆ (@quilltwilight) August 20, 2025

giving food in exchange for votes from orphans for some kpop shit is insane 😭 https://t.co/m1zkqDIv5D pic.twitter.com/gn3WeDhTQG

— kylie (@rokanne21) August 20, 2025

"they informed me that the kids continued voting even though i didn't obligate them like they day i visited them" she really visited an orphanage to bribe children with food for votes, that's… gross https://t.co/JMizeAvLNM

— ִֶָ (@besitoskz) August 20, 2025

While this method of voting is technically allowed by the rules, it is understandable how it has sparked outrage.

BTS