“I Don’t Want to Deny That” — Controversy Erupts as BTS Fandom ‘ARMY’ Ranked Among World’s Worst Fan Communities

On October 8, the blog platform Pannatic disclosed through X a list identifying the most controversial fandoms worldwide, with BTS’s ARMY and Taylor Swift’s Swifties occupying the top two positions. This ranking stemmed from a survey conducted among Reddit users, focusing on the least favorable fandoms.

Redditors justified BTS’s ARMY’s inclusion among the worst fandoms by citing concerns over their influence, attributing it to their immense size and global outreach. Meanwhile, Swifties were criticized for their behavior, which included online harassment directed at musicians, producers, and everyday individuals.

The latest findings garnered significant attention on the Korean social platform Qoo, drawing a flurry of commentary from users. Many individuals voiced their agreement with the rankings. One user mentioned:

“I don’t really want to deny that it’s for Army 1. I think there are some people who just don’t like it because they get bothered when they see tweets about the member’s birthday.”

Many netizens echoed their sentiments on Qoo, describing the ranking as polarizing or even “disgusting.”

Other reactions from the netizens (Image via Qoo)

Supporters of ARMY expressed their discontent with the survey results, with one fan sarcastically commenting that being popular seems to be a fault.

More reactions from the netizens (Image via Qoo)

Following BTS’ ARMY, Ariana Grande’s Arianators and Nicki Minaj’s Barbz were next on the list

In addition to BTS’s ARMY and Taylor Swift’s Swifties, other fandoms listed included Ariana Grande’s Arianators, Nicki Minaj’s Barbz, Beyoncé’s Beyhive, Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters, Lana Del Rey’s Reycists, and Harry Styles’ Harries.

Arianators earned their spot on the list due to their frequent involvement in social media disputes, and they are often perceived as representing a youthful demographic.

Nicki Minaj’s Barbz faced backlash for aggressively defending their idol, who married a convicted offender. Kenneth Petty, who wed Nicki in 2019, has a controversial past.

Beyoncé’s Beyhive was criticized for their fierce loyalty, often likening their support to participation in civil rights movements, as Beyoncé is often dubbed the “Black Queen.”

As for Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters, their notoriety stems from their purportedly negative attitudes and their insistence on Gaga’s artistic superiority, with some followers equating criticism of her to a lack of support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Lana Del Rey’s fans, referred to as Reycists, have been described as quirky, merging hipster self-importance with typical pop fandom dominance.

Lastly, the supporters of Harry Styles, known as Harries, were noted for their notoriety, rivaling the fervor of fans from boy bands in Korea, possessing many similar traits.

Previously, in November 2023, the Stan Twitter Choice Awards recognized BTS’s ARMY as the most disliked fandom on Twitter.

The acknowledgment of ARMY as the most hated fanbase sparked an unexpectedly enthusiastic reaction from BTS fans, who perceived the distinction as a testament to their prominence on the global stage.

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