Netizens want American rapper Latto (also known as Big Latto and formerly known as Mulatto), who previously collaborated with BTS‘s Jungkook, to apologize.
It all started with a song posted by BTS’s RM.
On August 16, the BTS leader shared a controversial track from Frank Ocean’s debut studio album, Channel Orange, titled “Bad Religion.” Some lyrics from the chorus have sparked debate over its meaning, with some considering it “Islamophobic.” Others have defended the song, explaining that Ocean is not referring to Islam as a “bad religion” but rather unrequited love.
And you say ‘Allahu Akbar’
I told him, ‘Don’t curse me’
‘Bo Bo, you need prayer’
I guess it couldn’t hurt me
If it brings me to my knees, it’s a bad religion— Frank Ocean’s “Bad Religion”
One of my friends explained the meaning behind the song “Bad Religion” by Frank Ocean. You should read it before throwing any hate to Namjoon . pic.twitter.com/WMc7xtFxvk
— Eclipse⁷
ʟᴀʏᴏ(ꪜ)ᴇʀ (@Eclipse_Yoonjin) August 16, 2023
“Many people confuse Frank Ocean’s choice of example and the title of the song as a diss towards Islam because he sings “Allahu Akbar,” which is Arabic for “God is great,” and then goes on to sing “but don’t curse me,” in reply to the Taxi driver that is praying an Islamic prayer… pic.twitter.com/mE182v66QW
— ²¹⁷RM Indigo Union⁷ (@RMGlobalUnion) August 16, 2023
Still, many trended “RM APOLOGISE TO MUSLIMS.” Netizens criticized RM for sharing Frank Ocean’s controversial song.
There’s no excuse for such disgusting thing like this stop speaking on other ppls religion and acting it’s something normal when you are not Muslim Islamophobia is Islamophobia and it should never be normalized
RM APOLOGISE TO MUSLIMS
وكل شخص راح يدافع عليه كل رْق من الحين— H☆ (@Euphxria97c) August 16, 2023
My problem with the song is specifically using Allahu Akbar, which I feel like makes people think islam is a “bad religion” and a worse one than Christianity or others, but if a Muslim finds the entire song or meaning offensive I’m not about to tell them how they should feel
https://t.co/R7bGDQiuxl
— Sara (@GFRIENDSparkles) August 17, 2023
With RM facing backlash, some self-professing ARMYs jumped to his defense. Others attempted to point out that RM was not the only idol to share “Bad Religion” by reposting BLACKPINK Jisoo‘s clip of Frank Ocean’s performance of “Bad Religion” at Coachella with the caption “legendary.” So, some attempted to trend “JISOO APOLOGIZE.”
so when blonks gonna trend “JISOO APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS” ?? She uploaded a video of Frank Ocean performing the SAME song calling it “legendary” so where were you all? pic.twitter.com/JnVN6Ru0Mt
— M ; LAYO(ꪜ)ER ʰᵒᵖᵉ ᵛᵉʳ⁷ (@_sdl93) August 16, 2023
MAKE JISOO APOLOGIZE MF https://t.co/SGntjhbEdb pic.twitter.com/Puk98Vd2J5
— (ꪜ)hellobishOjO⁷ 아포방포 (@ot7ispeacelife) August 17, 2023
Some BLINKs defended Jisoo by pointing out that RM is fluent in English while she is not. So, he should have a better understanding of the song’s lyrics.
jisoo doesn’t speak english I’m sure she’s not aware what was the song about, while Namjoon is a well-english speaker and he’s a unicef ambassador.. he shared that song specifically in his ig knowing what that song was about there is no excuses
NAMJOON APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS https://t.co/I5G9bLhJ0X
— Diva (@atruelydiva) August 16, 2023
Nevertheless, nearly all the BLACKPINK members’ names, including Jennie, were soon trending with “APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS.” Even those defending BLACKPINK used the phrases so that the posts would gain attention.
Blackpink always shown disrespect towards the religion of others. they once insulted a Hindu God and now they is disrespecting our Islam. They have no regard for the feelings of others.
JISOO APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS
JENNIE APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS
BLACKPINK APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS pic.twitter.com/LV8mFbvi9S— Saleha Shaikh V (@v_saleha) August 16, 2023
JISOO APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS
JENNIE APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS
LISA APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS
BLACKPINK APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS
Why should blackpink apologize. All the members respect Islam the even visited Saudi arabia and UAE and the respect islam
Jennie even visited a mosque wearing scarf pic.twitter.com/TbxzyjNNJe— Aminah24244 (@Aminah23233) August 16, 2023
With both “JENNIE APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS” and “namjoon” trending in K-Pop on X (formerly known as Twitter), Latto was trending in Rap. Latto shared a screenshot of her name trending on the app via Instagram Stories.
Self-proclaimed BLINKs found it problematic that Latto would share it with “JENNIE APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS” beside her name. They suggested she could have edited it out, so some feel she was intentionally defaming Jennie. Some toxic fans entered Latto’s comment section on Instagram, spamming vomiting emojis, demanding she apologize to Jennie, and more.
all the top comments on lattos’ post are all telling her to apologize and calling her a flop
as they should don’t stop now
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE
LATTO FLOP pic.twitter.com/nIuxDXl4bh— ︎
(@JNKSNS) August 17, 2023
On X, netizens began to trend “LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE.” Many defended Jennie…
Asking jennie to apologise to muslims for being respectful to our religion ??????
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE
NAMJOON APOLOGIZE TO MUSLIMS pic.twitter.com/97trVNCngt— 𝒜𝓂𝓎 𝒟𝑜𝓁𝓁
(@amy_doll97) August 17, 2023
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE
WE LOVE YOU JENNIE pic.twitter.com/y48nlmGwRJ— BLACKPINK LATINO (@BPINKLATINO) August 17, 2023
JENNIE WE LOVE YOU
JENNIE AN ANGEL
JENNIE RESPECTFUL IDOL
WE LOVE YOU JENNIE
JENNIE BEST GIRL
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE LATTO FLOP @Latto pic.twitter.com/Lbfl66F7Sz— Cam Cam (@Camcam1601_) August 17, 2023
…but some criticized Latto. From her appearance to her past problematic Twitter history, nothing was off-limits.
if you could edit your flop coachella crowd, why couldn’t you edit your ig story before posting it? @Latto
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE pic.twitter.com/SICNr1EiHU
— niko (@jnkobsession) August 16, 2023
Here’s latto’s dad beating teenage girls and getting beaten up as well
LATTO FLOP
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE pic.twitter.com/mt9dlJ7twR— ✞ (@jnkzoner) August 17, 2023
no but Nicki was honestly being nice to z list rapper Latto when she said she looks atleast 35
LATTO FLOP
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE pic.twitter.com/y112SjN8Nj— ︎
.@Latto is an asian anti & is encouraging harassment with misinformation towards an Asian woman who did nothing wrong but show support towards muslims
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO ASIANS
LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE pic.twitter.com/QXYw5fgJ8Y— 꽃 (@PopBaoe) August 17, 2023
Eventually, “LATTO FLOP” and “LATTO RACIST” trended along with “LATTO APOLOGIZE TO JENNIE” and “JENNIE RESPECTFUL IDOL.”
But Latto’s fans came to her defense too. They said that she was simply celebrating her name trending when she had new music releasing. They also trended “LATTO BEST GIRL” and “LATTO IS NOT APOLOGIZING.”
“Latto apologize to Jennie” when all she did was post her name trending cause she’s releasing a song soon-
Blinks need to leave black women alone pic.twitter.com/PsnpC8vK67
— Mari’s⁷ polar night (ꪜ) (@dynmvk) August 16, 2023
my girl wont apologize for something she didnt even trend lmao haters can suck cock
LATTO BEST GIRL
LATTO IS NOT APOLOGIZING pic.twitter.com/u3cEOMs0i6— 𝒀⁷ ʟᴀʏᴏ(ꪜ)ᴇʀ (@sopechwita) August 17, 2023
“LATTO BEST GIRL” & “LATTO IS NOT APOLOGIZING” is now TRENDING on X with over 5.6K & 1.6K Post following recent Instagram Story causing a certain group of people to get in there feelings. pic.twitter.com/aSq8HuZyWR
— Latto HQ (@LattoHQ) August 17, 2023
At this time, no artists have responded to any of the controversies.
