“Singing About Rape” — BTS Gets Targeted Over Song Lyrics
Recently, BTS faced some unexpected criticism on social media over the lyrics of one of their early releases.
Multiple users on X (formerly, Twitter) directed scathing accusations toward the group, claiming that they used an ableist slur and glorified rape in their song “Skool Luv Affair,” which was released in 2014.
The accusations were based on a short clip of the song’s lyrical video containing a section of RM’s rap where he says, “You know that her refusals/ And bad words could never stop me/ They could never retard me.”
This is actually scary how do they still have a career after this pic.twitter.com/DtxS4XzV0Y
— & im jessica the coolest 🍆 (@T0te1z) January 15, 2026
Soon enough, criticism started pouring in from users who took the post at its face value.
misogyny is that this group exists https://t.co/w75yQdfJkQ
— BT Insider (@ggvillainlol) January 15, 2026
why are people trying to defend this https://t.co/IOH2Ro54YT
— temi ‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🍊⋅˚✮ (@hugsforgnab) January 16, 2026
Both them and their fans are weirdos https://t.co/t5oIN2do3b
— Haila ˚₊۶ৎ˙⋆ (@realcoer_) January 15, 2026
However, many fans quickly weighed in, criticizing the OP (original poster) for taking the lyrics out of context. As they pointed out, the first part of the “problematic” lyrics was not alluding to anything sexual. As is evident in the bigger context of the song, RM was talking about his ability to love despite not being accepted. The meaning of these verses really gets tied together by the following lines, “When I love, it’s like I’ve never been hurt before/ Even if love takes everything from me, I’ll still give…” In addition, the word “retard” was not used as a derogatory term in the lyrics. The rapper used it to imply the technical definition of “retardation,” which means slowing down, the opposite of “acceleration.”
Why are you so dishonest? The English verse of “Intro: Skool Luv Affair” was taken out of context — RM isn't talking about rape or sexual relations, but about rejection and persistence in love and art.https://t.co/ERAykelpm5 https://t.co/VYw4JaVN7o
— 𝐁υ𐓣𐓣𝗒⁷ || 𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐 20.03 (@mnxt_bnny) January 15, 2026
1. You also use that r word but not in 2014 in big year 2026 while they don't and 2. That song isn't about grape its about a girl not accepting him wanting to treat her better than the man she keeps going back to that only makes her cry. You dumbass. https://t.co/YySI6YUAPm pic.twitter.com/3NuC1LFfYq
— Loading⁷💡ARIRANG (@areuloading) January 17, 2026
i already knew gringos suck at geography, but physics too? “retard” is actually a physics term, it simply means when something is decelerating (but i bet you know this. you’re just being malicious and dishonest bc that’s the only way you can go after bts when they’re good people https://t.co/jZcqXR8ySB pic.twitter.com/ZtaavVjCFC
— mai ⁷ ⦿ ☰ ☲ ᴬᴿᴵᴿᴬᴺᴳ 20.03.2026 (@toxicanette) January 16, 2026
Many ARMYs also expressed their concern over the fact that topics like sexual assault and ableism were being diluted in order to fuel online fanwars.
kpop stans have no morality yet they always act like the harbingers of morality for idols will always be funny to me because how disgusting you have to be to twist these lyrics in this manner? https://t.co/c2x1xYRxn9
— V (@scenery_wonder) January 16, 2026
What's actually scary is taking things out of context in order to use r*pe for fanwars. https://t.co/AsECb03Kpo
— 𝓓.⁷ | ⊙⊝⊜ (@mapadelalma) January 17, 2026
They way kpoppies go to the extent of making up lies about r*pe js for a fanwar never sits right with me https://t.co/08PexFOpQT
— Jjk⁷875 (@Bangtanzwho) January 18, 2026
