Let’s begin with the definition of “but Namjoon”
According to the Urban Dictionary, “but Namjoon” is a phrase used by k-pop stans when their faves are targeted for doing something problematic, so they try to point out something that Namjoon did years ago (that he apologized and learned from) to deflect the blame and attention.
Interesting right?
Especially considering he knows about it!
Below you will find scs of the insufferable Youtuber “ajanae” talking about Namjoon. Now, you may be wondering why she’s discussing him. Well, it was a video on Giselle's recent slip-up, and somehow she managed to make it about him!
But enough of that, let’s get into the *good* stuff. What did Namjoon do? Did he really apologize?
Let’s begin.
Not great at all.
Here’s what he had to say:
That was… a lot, right?
The argument that “there’s no apology at all” is ridiculous no matter what viewpoint you have in it. There is an apology and it exists. It is up to AA (I’m trying to find a way to say black that doesn’t come off weird, apologies if it does offend) people to forgive him. I want to make it clear that I am defending the person he IS, not the person he WAS. It’s notable that he’s never repeated his mistakes- and to lie and say that’s not indicative of anything is just disingenuous.
The point that needs to be construed and relayed to antis is that people can change, and if their logic was true, their faves are just as “bad” as he is.
So let’s get down to it, *why* is Namjoon kpop fan’s biggest scapegoat?
First let’s define scapegoat:
scape·goat
a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency.
After snooping around the internet, I see why people target him so easily... His apology was “vague”
In the eyes of some k-poppies, a very genuine and pretty sincere apology does not count if it is vague- which is quite interesting considering that was the only huge controversy he got into so what else could he be talking about?
Imagine I called someone a “carrot” on here years ago and the post resurfaces (let’s make-believe that carrot is a slur). I address it but I’m very vague about my apology. It’s a good apology. I genuinely won’t do it again and haven’t done it since- because I’ve grown...does me being vague about it make it any less sincere? Food for thought (literally).
Another argument is that it was not an apology at all.
So let’s define apology:
a·pol·o·gy
a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure.
Did he not say he had flawed ways of thinking that he acknowledged and needed to change?
To bring up a controversy directly from 2013 that most people had dropped by that point, right when they were getting famous (2017) would absolutely be stupid. I doubt the company would’ve even let him say the words “I’m sorry” or anything in depth for fear of rehashing something that could set all of their progress back, and I don’t blame them. So he did the second best thing- still admitting to his wrongs. Even if it was 4 years later it still proves my point that he’s still changed. He could’ve easily shut his mouth and not said anything at all bc no one was talking about it then- but he still felt the need to address that he knows he’s said insensitive things in the past and he’s changing.
What gets me the most is the kpoppies’ performative activism.
People’s faves are the end-all be-all. God forbid they do anything wrong, REPEATEDLY, might I add. It’s ok because they apologized that one time even though they did it again! It amazes me how people will get up onto their soapboxes and preach anti-racism when their fave is a repeat offender so they decide to deflect the blame onto Namjoon. For them, it was *never* about racism, it was always about protecting their idol. Silence for their fave but screaming for Namjoon to take accountability when he did and he made the effort to change.
If you’re going to defend someone, tooth and nail (like I’m doing right now preparing for some wretched comments), at least make sure your fave hasn’t made the same mistake over and over and over and over again.
It’s easy to deflect when you have tons of people behind you completely agreeing with you and suddenly voila! The blame is off your fave and it falls onto the shoulders of a man who, frankly, has nothing to do with your fave or their mistakes. Anger and hatred like that tend to be rooted in one thing- jealousy.
K-pop fans, a surprising amount on here (I did my research and I see you!) have this odd tendency to get in little digs at BTS. It’ll be in completely unrelated threads too, I swear to god you could make a thread about ice cream and you could have someone in there being like “I bet J-Hope doesn’t even like ice cream!!". I digress, it’s still all rooted in sick jealousy- and that’s the reason why “but namjoon!” is so incredibly prevalent.
Is it more prevalent among certain fans of certain groups? Absolutely, to the point where it’s a little shocking actually.
Will I name the groups? No I will not because this thread does not belong in the Dumpster Fire.
The people that will be attacking and angry in this thread will be doing so because Namjoon’s proof of change and better character outweighs the image of a monster (pun intended) they have of him in their minds.
Deep down in their little hearts, these people are angry because they feel robbed. When their fave loses, they feel it, and they hold onto it- and that’s part of the reason why being a k-pop fan is so much different from being a western music stan. People put so much stake into music and awards and chart placements that it feels like a personal attack when their faves lose to BTS.
(This isn’t me being “Oh BTS so superior blah blah”- this is me genuinely saying that they are just different)
So when their own faves slip up, the first thing they do is grab their pitchforks and head towards the only person they do feel comfortable attacking- Namjoon.
The rage lies in the fact that a man who made reprehensible mistakes had the ability to change who he was and blossom into one of the most successful idols in history- and some cannot handle that. I’ll still get people in this thread trying to argue up down left right that he’s still horrible- and that’s okay.
If I only lived in an idol’s past, I would be miserable too.
Hope you enjoyed 
- Vi
context plz?
. I do wish we could just turn the sex drive off like a faucet, it wouldve made my life a lot easier in my teens and twenties. Turn it on only when we're actually at a club or on a date lol.
