Dubai: The hashtag #YoongiWeLoveYou has been trending worldwide and in the UAE for the past 10 hours after the Army stepped in against alleged ‘body shaming’ comments on their favourite ‘idol’.
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It all started off with some internet users commenting on pictures of BTS lead rapper Suga, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi. A Korean website, Nate.com, carried photos of the K-pop superstar and some Korean netizens commented on his seemingly evident weight gain.
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While many comments were in favour of the difference in appearance, there were a few comments bashing the star for ‘not taking care of his body’.
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As is usual, the Army – BTS fans – took to Twitter with the hashtag #YoongiWeLoveYou posting positive comments on the star, his talent and his appearance. Within hours, the hashtag went viral and has remained a top trend worldwide all day.
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This comes just a day after the band announced that they would be taking a short hiatus from performances. But the pause may only last a few weeks, with the septet due to play in Saudi Arabia in October.
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BTS will take their “first official long-term break since their debut” six years ago, managers Big Hit Entertainment said, adding it will be a time to “recharge and refresh as musicians and creators”.
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It would also be a time for them to “enjoy their daily lives as normal 20-something young men”, the agency said in a midnight statement.
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Soaring fame and breaking records
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BTS – or Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates as Bulletproof Boy Scouts – have gained a massive global following in recent years, becoming the first K-pop group to top charts in the US and Britain with a string of sold-out shows in Los Angeles, Paris and London’s Wembley Stadium.
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The floppy-haired musicians, all in their 20s and often sporting earrings and lipstick, appeal to a generation that feels comfortable with the idea of fluid gender identity.
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They maintain close relationships with their fans, flooding social media with selfies, videos and tweets in Korean and English.
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The Morning and Evening Brief###
The Morning and Evening Brief