Just hours after completing their massive comeback show in Seoul, BTS arrived in New York for a new round of promotions. But the excitement quickly turned to concern as videos surfaced showing the group facing overwhelming crowds at the airport. RM was spotted moving on crutches following his recent ankle injury, while other members including Jungkook, Jimin, V, Jin, and j-hope were surrounded by fans and photographers in scenes that many described as unsafe.
RM Pushes Through Injury, Appears on Crutches in New York
The group landed in New York on March 22, just 12 hours after finishing their historic “ARIRANG” comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. RM, whose real name is Kim Namjoon, injured his ankle during rehearsal on March 19. Doctors diagnosed him with a severe ankle sprain, including ligament damage and bone bruising. He performed while seated on a stool during the Seoul show, delivering all his lines with full energy despite being unable to dance.
Seeing RM appear at the New York airport on crutches raised serious concerns among fans. Many questioned why he was traveling so soon after such a significant injury instead of resting.
Airport Crowds Create Unsafe Scenes for BTS Members
Videos circulating on social media showed large crowds pressing close to the members as they exited the airport. Jungkook in particular drew attention as people surrounded him, with some fans getting extremely close while recording on their phones.
This incident echoes a similar situation from September 2023, when Jungkook arrived in New York for the Global Citizen Festival and was mobbed at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Back then, fans criticized those who crowded him, pointing out that he had just completed a 14-hour flight.
During that 2023 incident, a video showed a woman approaching Jungkook very closely while saying “Hi there, bro.” This connected to an old livestream where Jungkook had jokingly said fans could greet him casually like a friend if they happened to run into him. But as fans noted then, showing up at the airport to chase him was not what he meant.
Paparazzi Behavior Sparks More Frustration
Adding to the chaos, paparazzi in New York reportedly focused almost entirely on Jungkook while largely ignoring the other six members. Videos posted by accounts like @amirmeetsny showed photographers shouting Jungkook’s name and asking for autographs while the other members walked nearby with less attention.
Fans quickly reacted to this disparity. One social media user wrote, “Paparazzi only focusing on him, ignoring everyone else, they know who’s the most famous.” Another commented, “I would be very embarrassed if I were non-Jungkook’s.”
Some fans pointed out that this kind of unequal treatment puts pressure on group dynamics and can make other members feel overlooked despite their equal importance to BTS.
Fans Rally to Demand Better Privacy Protection
Across Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms, ARMYs expressed anger at the scenes playing out in New York. Many argued that celebrities deserve privacy and safety, especially when traveling for work.
One fan reaction summed up the frustration:
“The way that the jungkook bro video isn’t funny at all like he just got off a 14 hour flight and a bunch of freaks decided to crowd him at the airport thinking it was funny to address him like a friend when they were clearly over stepping his boundaries and personal space.”
Others pointed to a troubling pattern of privacy violations involving BTS members. In recent months, the group has faced multiple incidents where their personal boundaries were crossed. V‘s private messages were used as evidence in a legal dispute without his consent. A monk publicly shared details of a private conversation with RM during what was supposed to be a peaceful temple visit. Jin faced an incident during military service where unauthorized access occurred. Jungkook has dealt with stalking attempts for years.
Fans are now asking: Who can BTS really trust? One ARMY posted, “That monk revealing joons personal conversation, k1an revealing what jin said in his personal time, that doctor sexualizing him on a show and now mhj using taehyungs personal texts without his consent..can bts even trust anyone at this point?”
What Happened in Seoul Before New York
Before traveling to New York, BTS delivered their first full-group concert in nearly four years. The March 21 show at Gwanghwamun Square drew approximately 22,000 ticketed fans with thousands more gathering nearby. The concert was streamed live on Netflix to over 190 countries.
Despite RM‘s injury, the group performed new tracks from their album “ARIRANG” alongside hits like “Butter,” “Mic Drop,” and “Dynamite.” The other six members handled most of the choreography while RM performed from a stool, using hand movements and facial expressions to stay connected with the audience.
After the show, RM posted a message apologizing to Seoul residents for any inconvenience caused by road closures and noise during the event. He wrote, “For those affected by traffic control and noise, as well as the shops and office workers in the Gwanghwamun area, I want to express my sincere apology and gratitude.”
The Bigger Conversation About Celebrity Safety
The scenes in New York have started a larger discussion about how fans and media treat celebrities during travel. Many pointed out that airports are not fan meeting venues—they are transportation hubs where people, including celebrities, need to move safely from one place to another.
Some fans argued that agencies and security teams need to do more to protect artists. Others said fans themselves must take responsibility and stop showing up at airports for unofficial schedules.
One fan put it clearly:
“There’s going ‘hey bro’ to jungkook if you see him out and about like he said. and then there’s going to the airport and following him around.”
What’s Next for BTS in New York
BTS arrived in New York for scheduled overseas promotions following their Seoul comeback. The exact details of their activities remain under wraps, but the group is expected to spend several days in the city before continuing with their world tour plans. The group’s upcoming 82-date global tour is expected to be one of the largest concert tours in music history.
For now, fans are hoping the members can rest and recover, especially RM, whose ankle injury will require time to heal properly before he can fully participate in dance routines again.
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