The BTS members have given fans something to talk about after sharing their first group selfie in months, but the excitement quickly turned into confusion and debate. The photo, which surfaced online following the group’s recent GQ Magazine photoshoot and interview, showed the seven members together for the first time in a while. However, instead of simply celebrating the reunion, many ARMYs found themselves questioning what they were looking at .
The image, posted on February 14, 2026, sparked immediate backlash from fans who felt the members looked “unrecognizable.” Social media platforms lit up with comments from users who suspected heavy filters or AI editing tools had been used to alter the members’ appearances. The debate became so intense that it divided the fandom, with some accusing BigHit Music of purposely distorting the image .
Why the BTS Group Selfie Sparked Confusion
The main issue fans had with the BTS group selfie was that several members did not look like themselves. The editing was so heavy that some followers struggled to identify who was who. One fan posted on social media, “literally who is this,” while another wrote, “that is not them” . These reactions were widely shared across platforms, showing that many people had the same concerns.
Some fans went as far as to claim the photo was entirely generated by artificial intelligence. Comments like “I first saw the pic on twt and i thought it was AI bc yeah who is that ??” and “Ai editing lmao , whoever did that better not log in that ig acc again” flooded timelines . A particularly observant fan pointed out that Suga was the most affected, writing, “they edited them so much like yoongi not even looking like yoongi” .
Korean netizens on community forums like theqoo also shared their confusion. One user commented, “I thought it was 6 members and a staff… But that guy is Suga..?” while another questioned, “Did Suga get double eyelids?? Was it for his droopy eyelids?” . The reaction “I thought this was done using AI” was echoed by multiple users, showing the debate was not limited to international fans but was happening in Korea as well .
The Mirror Effect Theory Offers Explanation
As the debate grew, some fans took it upon themselves to figure out why the BTS members looked so different. A theory soon emerged that the photo was actually a mirrored selfie. When you take a picture with a phone’s front camera, it often flips the image. This can make faces look slightly different because people are used to seeing themselves and others in a certain orientation.
Fans who flipped the photo back to its original orientation noticed that the members looked much more like themselves. One user shared on social media, “Yall flip the pic ahaha it looks strange because its a mirror pic” . Another added, “It’s because it’s flipped yall look (yoongi NOT beating the cat allegations)” .
This explanation helped calm some fans, but not everyone was satisfied. Critics argued that even if the photo was mirrored, the level of smoothing and filtering was still too high. They pointed out that professional magazines and entertainment companies should be more careful about how they present artists, especially when fans are already sensitive about AI editing issues.
A Growing Pattern of AI and Editing Concerns
This is not the first time BTS has been at the center of an AI editing debate. In fact, the group and its members have repeatedly found themselves in similar situations over the past year. The frequency of these incidents has made fans more alert and, in some cases, more suspicious when new photos are released.
In November 2025, Jimin and Jungkook faced similar criticism after Elle Japan released photos from their photoshoot promoting Are You Sure?! Season 2. Fans accused the magazine of over-editing the duo to the point where they looked “AI generated.” One fan wrote, “why tf these look ai generated wtf bh interns do better???” while another commented, “The editing is crazy jungkook literally look different same for jimin” . Some fans even pointed out technical flaws, saying, “the shadows don’t match, their faces look edited” .
Earlier in July 2025, Jungkook was the subject of an AI controversy when a shirtless image of him went viral. It was later revealed that the photo was entirely AI-generated, sparking outrage among fans who called it unethical and disrespectful . One fan stated, “using ai on him is so weird and disrespectful,” while another referenced RM‘s known dislike for AI, saying, “Namjoon was absolutely right about dislike AI because it destroy the meaning of art” .
Even V has been caught up in the AI confusion, but for very different reasons. In February 2026, a fan took a photo with V in Portugal that was so high-quality and flawless that people thought it was AI-generated. The fan herself joked about it, posting, “Yooo f*ck this AI generation, tell me why I just met Taehyung and it looks like AI-generated” . Other fans had to point out V’s distinctive moles to prove the photo was real, concluding, “It’s not the quality, it’s Kim Taehyung” .
The Line Between Reality and AI Becomes Blurry
The repeated incidents involving BTS highlight a larger issue in the entertainment world. As AI technology becomes more advanced, it is getting harder to tell what is real and what is not. This is especially true for K-pop idols, who are already known for their polished visuals.
In October 2025, a photo of Jungkook with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan went viral, exciting fans from both India and Korea. However, the image turned out to be completely fake. It was created by swapping Jungkook’s face onto a photo of Squid Game actor Lee Jung-jae . Similarly, a photo of Jungkook with soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo also proved to be AI-generated .
On the lighter side, some AI edits are created purely for fun. In September 2025, a fan used Google’s Gemini AI to dress the BTS members in black Pathani kurtas, giving them a “desi” look. The video received over 1.5 million views, with fans enjoying the creative twist. Comments ranged from “Jhope and Jin suits perfectly” to “Thank God they don’t wear them or else I might die early” . While these edits are made with good intentions, they still add to the confusion about what is real and what is manufactured.
World Tour Promotions Also Face AI Criticism
The AI editing issue has even affected BTS‘s professional promotions. In January 2026, promotional materials for the group’s upcoming world tour sparked controversy. Ads for the Las Vegas stop featured images that fans immediately flagged as AI-generated. One fan posted, “I really can’t tell who the three of them are originally supposed to be” .
Another fan compared the images to a low-quality knockoff, writing, “This is Temu’s version of BTS” . The frustration stemmed from the fact that there are plenty of high-quality, real photos available. One user questioned, “There’s already this group photo, isn’t there??? Why do they have to do this????” while another added, “There are high-res original photos taken by real photographers, so why use AI to edit them?” .
Even the French advertisements for the tour were found to be AI-generated, leading to further disappointment among the fandom .
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Where Things Stand With BTS and Fan Trust
As of February 2026, the debate over the latest BTS group selfie continues to simmer. While some fans have accepted the mirror theory as an explanation, others remain critical of the apparent use of filters. The incident has once again raised questions about how entertainment companies handle promotional images and whether they trust their artists’ natural looks enough to present them without heavy modification.
With BTS preparing for their 2026 comeback album and world tour, fans are eager to see how the group will be presented moving forward. RM previously mentioned that the new album is expected around late March 2026 . As the release date approaches, ARMYs will likely be paying closer attention to every photo and video that drops, ready to spot any signs of AI involvement.
The selfie debate also comes as the group gears up for their world tour, which kicks off on April 9, 2026, in Goyang, South Korea, with stops in Tokyo, Mexico City, Los Angeles, London, and Las Vegas . Fans attending these shows will no doubt be hoping for real, unfiltered moments with their favorite idols.
For now, the BTS members themselves have not commented on the controversy. But given their past statements—like Jungkook expressing concern about AI’s ability to blur reality and fabrication —it is safe to say they are aware of the conversations happening around them.
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