BTS officially kicked off the European leg of BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' on June 26 (local time) at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, before wrapping up their second and final concert in the city on June 27. Although it marked the group's very first concerts in Spain as well as the opening stop of their European leg, Madrid was quickly hailed by many fans as one of the most electrifying stops of the tour thanks to the incredible passion and energy shown by the local ARMYs.
The members themselves were equally impressed and couldn't stop praising the Spanish crowd. RM enthusiastically exclaimed, "The people of Spain were INSANE!" while Jin marveled at the atmosphere, and V didn't hesitate to declare, "It's No.1 for me!" During the final concert, SUGA personally thanked the audience, saying, "Really, you guys are THE BEST! It's a place I really wanted to come and thanks to your fiery energy, it feels even better!" He also promised that BTS would definitely return to Spain in the future.
Beyond expressing their gratitude toward local fans, BTS also delivered a heartwarming and unexpected shout-out to members of the LGBTQ+ community during the second night of the Madrid concerts. Coincidentally, with Pride Month drawing to a close, the group's reaction made the occasion even more meaningful for many fans within the community.
As they usually do during concerts, the members spent time walking around the stage, interacting with fans and reading the signs held up in the audience. During the second concert in Madrid, one fan appeared to be holding a sign that read, "Lesbians Love BTS." RM paused to read the sign aloud before smiling and responding, "Oh, that's cool!" Moments later, Jungkook enthusiastically shouted, "Yes!" in the background.
Although BTS members often notice and acknowledge the messages fans write on their banners throughout every concert, RM rarely reads the contents aloud. That made this particular interaction feel even more meaningful. Fans also appreciated Jungkook's enthusiastic response, which added to the warmth of the moment. Once clips of the interaction began circulating across social media, fans couldn't help but express their excitement and appreciation: "It’s so sweet, thank u BTS", "THIS MEANS SO MUCH TO ME", "right at the end of pride month h3ll yeah", "Idfc if yall call me parasocial I’m crying rn omg NAMJOON", "HAPPY PRIDE MONTH", "Can we get this video in the hall of fame of videos",...
Indeed, it is not the first time BTS has openly demonstrated their unwavering support and respect for the LGBTQ+ community!
Over the years, RM has consistently shared content expressing support and inclusivity. He previously recommended the film Blue Is the Warmest Color, which tells the love story of two women, and introduced "Same Love" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, saying he loved the song even more after learning its meaning. RM has also recommended "Strawberries & Cigarettes" by Troye Sivan, a track featured in the LGBTQ+ coming-of-age film Love, Simon.
As for Jungkook, fans have long known that he is a fan of Troye Sivan, who is openly gay. Jungkook also performed "Fools" with RM, one of Troye Sivan's best-known songs. In an interview with Singles magazine, Jungkook once shared that he believes people should be able to wear whatever they like, "regardless of gender."
Perhaps the most memorable moment when discussing this topic was RM's iconic speech at the United Nations, where he said: "No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin color, gender identity: Speak yourself." Openly gay K-pop artist Holland later revealed that he felt incredibly grateful after hearing RM deliver those words.
BTS's continued support for and respect toward the LGBTQ+ community has brought comfort and happiness to countless fans while promoting the values of acceptance, inclusivity, and compassion that the group has stood for since the beginning. Those ideals are among the many reasons BTS continues to inspire millions of people around the world.
