On the 28th of this month, BTS became one of the biggest names at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards after winning all three categories they were nominated for. As the director of the two music videos “SWIM” and “Normal” from the album “ARIRANG,” world-renowned director Tanu Muino shared a post congratulating them on their success, writing: “I could spend a lifetime watching you .. Swim best kpop, song of the year. congratulations, team!”

One of the photos, in which Tanu Muino knelt in front of the BTS members while the group stood behind her, suddenly became the center of criticism after the post was widely shared. The director of BTS’ “SWIM” MV received a wave of negative comments, with some people accusing her of not considering BTS’ dignity, posting the photo to gain attention, or striking an inappropriate pose. BTS were also dragged into the controversy, with some even accusing the group of misogynistic behavior.

As the situation escalated, Tanu Muino eventually deleted the controversial photo and kept only the behind-the-scenes images from the filming of “SWIM.” The move was seen as an effort by the director to calm the controversy while preventing both herself and BTS from being further dragged into negative accusations.

Having apparently witnessed the trouble Tanu Muino was facing, V then seemed to decide to step in and help put an end to the unnecessary controversy.

Not long after the photo was deleted, V surprisingly took it upon himself to repost the exact same controversial photo on his Instagram Story, while also tagging Tanu Muino’s account. Without saying anything else, the idol appeared to directly show his support for the director as well as the photo that had previously drawn so much criticism toward her.

Fans saw this as V’s way of standing up for his collaborator and not allowing a toxic section of the fandom to dictate what other people can or cannot post. Many praised him for handling the situation himself and for choosing to stand with someone who was being attacked instead of simply staying silent and letting the matter pαѕѕ.

One fan commented: “The director deleted her post because y’all couldn’t stop barking and spreading hate under it. And then Taehyung posted the same picture the very next day and tagged her. That’s not a response. That’s a whole statement. Taehyung really knows how to shut the noise down without saying a word. Oh, I love him. Yeah, he’s THAT guy.”

Many fans also criticized the excessive reactions directed at Tanu Muino, pointing out that the pose in the photo was simply her signature way of posing. Before BTS, she had taken similar photos while working with numerous famous artists, including Harry Styles, Lil Nas X, Lenny Kravitz, Rosalía, Dua Lipa, and The Weeknd.

For Tanu Muino, the pose is more like a humorous meme and a personal “signature” that she has used to mark milestones throughout her career. The photo with BTS was created as an artistic, stylized, and humorous pose rather than an inappropriate or disrespectful act, and certainly not a situation in which anyone was forced to kneel.

What is even more notable is that the exact same type of pose has long been familiar in her work with many other artists, yet whenever it appears with BTS, it is immediately blown out of proportion and turned into a moral issue. This has left fans questioning whether those attacking the group are actually “obsessed” with BTS and deliberately targeting the group alone.

Following V’s response, fans took to social media to share their thoughts and support for V and director Tanu Muino:

- Taehyung who is for the women. taehyung who's always stood up for what's right. taehyung who always puts parasocial fяєαкs back in their place. taehyung who's one of the very few idols in kpop industry who actually has balls. Taehyung who is the greenest flag.

- What's wrong with this picture?? Isn't that her signature pose?? Some ARMY or solo’s are delusional! It is nice for Taehyung to post it. thwt’s why i love him.

- Some people are so immature and stupid! That was so hot of him. Never regretted stanning Tae

- Sh1tty ARMYs made more drama over a photo with a genuinely important person just because she's a woman and looked a member in the eye than over posing next to a woman beater

- Taehyung is such a “don’t worry, i’ll handle it” type of man ugh he’s insanely s3xy

- He’s always doing these little things without a word because he knows what’s going on so yes, i stan the right guy.

- In a world full of people who have zero: organic personality, self respect, confidence and honesty, be a Taehyung, a man with honor, self-respect, confidence and fierceness. Kim Taehyung you're genuinely as iconic, legendary and precious as a man can possibly get and I'm so proud

- K-pop stans forced her to delete it because they harαѕѕed her, it's like a joke. I didn't like the pose either, but for better or worse, it's the woman's signature pose and she poses the exact same way with everyone. How many more women are K-pop stans gonna harαѕѕ, ffs? When it comes to talking, they act like they're the biggest feminists, when in reality...

- How can you be so awful and disrespectful toward a woman? This is her signature with every artist she works with, but once again, because of fake news like this, THE WOMAN gets penalized and removes a signature that represents her work and could bring her more views and other opportunities. Congratulations, K-pop!!