Thread by @sweetbtstea

I have a thread to write, but let me channel my inner Namjoon and break it down even further.
Come sip this tea. ☕️

https://twitter.com/BTSareHumans/status/1282095670585851907

MOST of the heavy lifting has always been done by Korean idol fans. With some credit given to Chinese and Japanese fans. BTS marked the first time you had a MASSIVE global fandom where records and accolades were tackled in every time zone and you could visibly see everyone-

pulling their own weight.

It wasn't a situation where you had a BUNCH of people loudly taking credit for the actions of specific fans in a few markets. ARMYs are doing it all over the world. Working together while also working separately. We have receipts for our usefulness.

Flop stans are used to having the agency and certain fans in other markets do all the work and then they indirectly take the credit.

ARMY doesn't do indirect, we each do what we can when we can. BTS and ARMY "teamwork" exposed everyone.

1.) BTS exposed the industry for exploiting foreign fans for money but treating them like second-class citizens. ARMYs are ARMYs no matter where we are in the world. This isn't just words; their success wouldn't be possible if it weren't a reality.

2.) People can say what they want to, but the industry leaning into herd mentality where everyone's a K-pop fan and individual fans don't matter? That really hurt them internationally. BTS has exposed the importance of having a strong, dedicated fandom, not just "K-pop fans."

3.) If you are happy with a status quo that favors inaction and indirectly claiming something, then BTS and ARMY's endless hustling has got to be an exhausting constant slap in the face. NOBODY was willing to step their game up. Not the "Big 3" or people who stan their groups.

4.) Lastly, the arrogance and entitlement meant these people were desperate for BTS and ARMY to fail because they thought us not being "good enough" was all it took for us to go away. The lack of support from the idol industry and its fans is usually enough to crush a group-

perceived as "rising above their station." It was in the past for other such groups. A lot of people, for as special and enlightened as they want to feel about standing idol music, are complicit in a system that crushes those who are from smaller, disadvantaged companies.

Either by practically demanding that only idols from wealthy companies succeed or by suggesting that idols from smaller companies who succeed should only be allowed to succeed for a certain amount of time before stepping aside for someone else, something NEVER asked of Big 3 acts

They keep trying to make BTS poof away every single year with some busted antics, and they just don't realize that BTS is the type of group to get fans by breathing because they breathe excellence.

ARMYs barely need to actively recruit anymore. Must sting. ☕️