Iris Wright

[triv⁷ 🦋 @namseoktruther]

stop putting the video of joon feeding the girl grapes on the tl m about to LOSE MY MIND

[kat⁷ ✿ @killingithope]

this person on weverse nailed it

[Kiara⁷ @kthnoir7]

There’s a lot to unpack here, and I’m going to say it directly. I dont care if I get cancelled but this needs to be said.

For years, BTS were told they weren’t big enough, mainstream enough, or "Grammy material." Then they became one of the biggest acts in the world. They broke records, sold out stadiums across continents, topped charts repeatedly, and built a global cultural impact that few artists in history can match.

And when they became too successful to ignore?

The Grammys nominated "Dynamite" and "Butter"—both English-language songs.

Let that sink in.

The songs that got BTS into the major Grammy conversation were the songs that fit most comfortably into the Western industry framework. Yet BTS's discography is filled with critically acclaimed Korean-language music that has had enormous cultural and artistic impact.

Now we have a "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category.

And before anyone calls that progress, let's ask the obvious question: why does there need to be a separate category at all?

If Asian artists are good enough to dominate global charts, sell millions of records, headline festivals, influence culture worldwide, and compete with every major artist in the industry, then they are good enough for the same categories as everyone else.

Inclusion isn't creating a separate lane after Asian artists prove they can win in the existing ones.

Inclusion is treating them as equals.

That's why BTS's lyrics in "Aliens" hit so hard:

"어쩜 그래 shameless
예의를 차려 we aliens
해는 동쪽에서 risin'
Aliens, aliens"

No matter how successful some artists become, there are still systems and institutions that treat them as perpetual outsiders.
And that's exactly why this conversation matters.
Because when BTS were impossible to ignore, the response shouldn't have been to create another box and place Asian artists inside it. The response should have been to judge them by the same standards as every other artist competing for the biggest awards in music.

ARMYs, we have a mission.

Talk about Arirang everywhere. Put it in AOTY conversations. Put it in ROTY conversations. Write threads. Make edits. Share analyses. Start discussions.

If we believe it deserves those nominations, then let's make enough noise that nobody can pretend it doesn't belong in the room.

They ignored BTS until they couldn't.

Let's make sure they can't ignore Arirang either.

[Oyindamola🙄 @dammiedammie35]

Mexicans gathered around this Korean guy to celebrate with him after their match yesterday and started shouting BTS BTS BTS…He was the only Korean among them😂✨

[James Tate @JamesTate121]

This is not normal.

[sil⁷/CLOSED @silmwah]

gimme dat gasoline 🔥

[meg ⁷ seven years with bts ✨ @gddaengit]

no healthcare no walkable cities no living wage but damnit we make hobi slutty and that’s something isn’t it

[goma @soigomaa]

The misandry debate, summarised

[simo 🪷 saw bts @jikoookcore]

fuck whoever is getting it seven days a week

[hayden starfighter✨ @rotsoka]

HE WON (im not from new york)

[Dean Withers @itsdeaann]

Reject Trump. Reject Authoritarianism.

NO KINGS!

[Democrats @TheDemocrats]

Republicans would rather protect pedophiles than do their jobs and release the Epstein files.

@SpeakerJohnson, what are you hiding?

[Morgan J. Freeman @mjfree]

My 10 year-old daughter asked:

"Dad, are we going to get shot if we go to the march?"

THIS is exactly what Donald Trump wants our innocent kids to fear.

We refuse to be scared.
WE WILL SEE YOU THERE!!!!!
#NoKingsDayOct18th

[Dean Withers @itsdeaann]

🚨 BREAKING:

According to organizers, there is 200k people in attendance at the D.C. Protest! It is one of the largest protests in D.C. History!

[Democrats @TheDemocrats]

Opposing kings since 1776 🇺🇲

[Brian Allen @allenanalysis]

They gave Adelita Grijalva the keys to Congress…

…but still won’t swear her in.

This isn’t oversight, it’s obstruction.

You can’t stall democracy just because you don’t like who the people elected.

[Nancy Pelosi @TeamPelosi]

If your vote didn’t matter, Republicans wouldn't try to take it away. If your voice didn’t matter, MAGA wouldn’t try to silence you.

Say NO to Kings; vote YES on prop 50!

[Melanie D'Arrigo @DarrigoMelanie]

If you believe all of these people are paid protesters, then you probably believe that Trump is covering up the release of the Epstein files because he’s not in them.