- By Srishti Pandey
- Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The 2024 Melon Music Awards (MMA), held on November 30 at INSPIRE Arena in Seoul, left BTS fans, ARMYs, in shock after SUGA was excluded from a VCR tribute honouring the group's legacy. The segment celebrated BTS' years of dominance at the awards ceremony but notably featured only six members, sparking outrage among fans.
Fans took to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to voice their displeasure, trending hashtags such as #BTSisSeven. Many questioned the decision, calling it disrespectful and unjustified. One fan wrote, "What did SUGA do to deserve this kind of treatment?" The exclusion was perceived as a slight against SUGA and the unity of BTS as a seven-member group.
what did yoongi ever do to deserve this disrespect
— ur grandaddy star⁷ (@rorosfirstlove) November 30, 2024
RT & REPLY
Excluding a BTS member from an MMA VCR meant to honor their legacy is disrespectful. Respect all members @melon .
BTS IS SEVEN
SUGA IS BTS pic.twitter.com/a7jhdLwXIi
. @melon , how come it's a tribute to BTS when you exclude one member from it. purposefully excluding a BTS member from an MMA VCR intended to honor their legacy isn’t an honor, it’s an insult.
— YOONGI YOONGI YOONGI YOONGI (@YOONGlYOONGI) November 30, 2024
BTS IS SEVEN
APOLOGIZE TO YOONGI
RESPECT YOONGI
RESPECT BTS pic.twitter.com/NEUIEzjDKD
Speculation suggests the decision to exclude SUGA may be linked to his DUI incident earlier this year. In August, it was revealed that SUGA had been caught drunk driving an electric scooter, with reports claiming his blood alcohol content was 0.227%, significantly above South Korea's legal limit. Although this figure was never officially confirmed, the controversy drew significant attention, with anti-fans even sending funeral wreaths in protest.
BTS members (Image:X)
SUGA addressed the issue publicly, apologizing to the nation and expressing regret. The matter was ultimately resolved through a summary indictment, with SUGA paying a fine of 15 million KRW. Despite the backlash at the time, ARMYs showed unwavering support, arguing that the incident was unfairly magnified in comparison to similar cases.
SUGA | Agust D TOUR 'D-DAY' The Original Poster
— BTS_official (@bts_bighit) May 23, 2024
📅 RELEASE: 2024.06.07.
🔗 https://t.co/eBrHMui2RZ#SUGA #슈가 #AgustD #D_DAY_THE_ORIGINAL pic.twitter.com/aS5rZfXjfY
bts is forever SEVEN stay mad yalllll pic.twitter.com/bSlY1S1XCT
— ؘ (@93meuamor) November 30, 2024
Neither the Melon Music Awards organizers nor BIGHIT MUSIC has commented on the exclusion or the ongoing backlash. Fans have demanded accountability from both parties, asserting that the VCR tribute undermines the legacy of BTS as a unified group.
