BTS member Jungkook faced unexpected criticism after a lighthearted singing moment during his recent birthday livestream. The singer performed a playful impression of a character from the animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters” that some online critics called embarrassing. Fans quickly defended Jungkook, explaining the moment was meant as a joke and not a serious vocal performance. The incident occurred during Jungkook’s 28th birthday celebration broadcast live to fans worldwide. Supporters highlighted Jungkook’s history of strong live performances as evidence of his vocal ability.
Jungkook’s Birthday Livestream Celebration
On September 1, 2025, Jungkook celebrated his 28th birthday with a special livestream on Weverse. The broadcast began with heartfelt thanks to his parents and the ARMY fanbase. During the several-hour session, Jungkook shared casual conversation and performed songs for fans. He showed off a new piercing and maintained a lighthearted atmosphere throughout the event. The singer performed more than ten songs during the livestream including tracks from his album “Golden” and songs from the animated movie “K-pop Demon Hunters.”
The setlist included fan favorites like “Still With You,” “3D,” “Closer To You,” “Hate You,” and “Please Don’t Change.” He also sang “Seven,” “Shot Glass of Tears,” “Somebody,” “Standing Next To You,” “Too Sad To Dance,” and “Yes or No.” The performance concluded with songs from “K-pop Demon Hunters” including “Golden” and “Soda Pop.” It was during the “Golden” performance that Jungkook deliberately mimicked the character Rumi’s “lost voice” scene in a playful, exaggerated style that later became controversial.
The Controversial Performance Moment
During the livestream, Jungkook sang the song “Golden” from “K-pop Demon Hunters” while deliberately imitating the character Rumi’s vocal style. The animated film features a scene where Rumi sings with a “lost voice” quality that Jungkook playfully exaggerated. Some users on Korean community site Nate Pann criticized the performance, calling it evidence of weak vocals. They described the moment as embarrassing for a main vocalist of Jungkook’s stature. These criticisms spread through anonymous community platforms despite the casual context of the performance.
The song “Golden” has become known as one of the most challenging tracks in recent K-pop due to its exceptionally high vocal range. Many established idols including IVE’s Yujin, Apink’s Eunji, and Super Junior’s Ryeowook have attempted their own versions of the difficult song. Jungkook’s performance was not presented as a serious cover but rather as a brief, playful moment during a casual livestream. He sang the segment while laughing and without knowing the complete lyrics, using a female key that differed from his natural vocal range.
Fan Defense and Support
Fans quickly countered the critical narrative about Jungkook’s performance. Many pointed out that the singer was clearly joking and not attempting a serious vocal cover. Supporters emphasized that judging a casual moment from a birthday livestream was unfair given Jungkook’s proven track record of strong live performances. One fan on Nate Pann wrote:
“You can’t bring up a song that was sung as a joke in a corner of the room by a singer who performed at the World Cup opening ceremony. You want to create public opinion, so you fabricated a post and posted it on KakaoTalk. It’s not an official cover, and you just sang it briefly while laughing without even knowing the lyrics, in a woman’s key.”
Another supporter noted the dedication Jungkook showed by conducting the lengthy livestream despite being tired:
“He must have been surprised by the housebreaking of the soldier the day before, but he came to the birthday live broadcast and said he couldn’t sleep and was tired, but he sang all 10 songs of the album until 2 AM. At the end of the live broadcast, he said, ‘Since I sang the Golden album today, should I sing the Golden one?’ and sang the first verse playfully.”
Jungkook’s Emotional Connection to K-pop Demon Hunters
The animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters” has clearly resonated with Jungkook on a personal level. During previous livestreams, he has spoken about emotional moments from watching the movie and even mentioned crying during the ending. The film follows a trio of female idols who balance singing careers with demon hunting activities. The story focuses on HUNTR/X’s Rumi who must confront personal demons while forming a friendship with Jinu, a 400-year-old demon tormented by his past.
During a previous livestream, Jungkook became visibly emotional while watching the film’s climax where Jinu sacrifices himself for Rumi and humanity. He exclaimed “You idiot” with emotion thick in his voice as Jinu heroically shielded Rumi from the villain Gwi-ma. Jungkook questioned why the character chose to block the attack rather than fight alongside Rumi. His genuine reaction to the storyline demonstrated his emotional investment in the characters and narrative. This context helps explain why Jungkook would playfully reference the film during his birthday celebration.
Professional Vocal Recognition
Despite the criticism of his playful moment, he has received significant praise from music professionals for his vocal abilities. Fans highlighted previous instances where professional singers commended Jungkook’s singing talent. One supporter referenced Andrew Choi’s positive reaction to Jungkook’s performance of “Soda Pop” from the same film:
“Last time during the live broadcast, Sodapop didn’t even sing properly, but Andrew Choi, who sang Kedehun Sodapop Jinwoo, praised the song so well. He said that his voice was good and he sang well, so his YouTube views exploded and his Instagram and Tik Tok communities all praised him, and he was so enthusiastic about Jungkook back then.”
The contrast between professional praise and casual criticism from anonymous online sources fueled fan frustration. Supporters noted that Jungkook has consistently demonstrated strong vocal ability during official performances including his World Cup opening ceremony appearance. His live encores and global stage performances have earned respect from industry professionals and fans alike. This track record of excellence made the criticism of a casual moment seem particularly unjustified to defenders.
The Bigger Picture of Online Criticism
The incident reflects broader patterns in how online communities sometimes critique K-pop idols. Anonymous platforms can amplify negative comments that lack proper context. In this case, critics seemed to ignore the obvious joking nature of Jungkook’s performance. One fan noted that the critics appeared more invested in Jungkook than their own favorite artists:
“It’s because of the lip piercing, and he’s done it other times too. Anyway, it’s disgusting that the gallery members are more interested in Jungkook than their favorites and watch the live broadcast from beginning to end.”
Another supporter pointed out the inconsistency in criticizing Jungkook while ignoring his proven abilities:
“It’s not like you usually hear people say you’re tone-deaf, and you’re comparing the singer who sang well into the microphone while dancing and got 13 million views on YouTube’s Indong with the encore video, and those gallery grandmas are criticizing him with a song. Isn’t it funny?”
The defense of Jungkook highlights how fans will rally behind idols when they feel criticism is unfair or taken out of context. The global BTS fanbase has consistently supported members against what they perceive as unjust attacks or misunderstandings. This incident shows how even casual moments from personal livestreams can become subjects of intense online discussion and debate within K-pop communities. The response also demonstrates the strong protective instinct that fans feel toward their favorite artists.
Also Read: BTS Star Jungkook Faces Another Home Intrusion Just Days Before His Birthday
Credits: facebook.com/KpopMusicGame
