BTS recently captured global attention with their historic performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show. On the day of the final, Google Trends searches for the keyword "BTS" surged to four times their usual level, spreading across Europe, South αмєяι¢α, and Africa. The group also surpαѕѕed 30 million Spotify streams on the day of the event, breaking the all-time Halftime Show streaming record previously held by Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. Meanwhile, their нιт song "Dynamite" saw an impressive 105% increase in streams.

BTS's stage also received widespread praise from international media. Billboard and Variety applauded the group's explosive energy, commanding stage presence, and the exceptional charisma of all seven members. Rolling Stone noted that although the performance was relatively short, it left a lasting impression, especially considering BTS had arrived in the United States less than 24 hours before taking the stage.

However, amid the overwhelming praise, a handful of negative opinions also emerged, including remarks widely criticized as offensive and discriminatory toward BTS and their performance. One of the most notable came from Pietra Bertolazzi, a вяαzιℓian digital content creator, entrepreneur, and former DJ known for her conservative views and followed by more than one million people on social media.

According to вяαzιℓian news outlet Itatiaia, Bertolazzi described the BTS members as "effeminate, vain men, full of faces and poses" and argued that it was alarming for them to be role models for today's youth. She wrote: "Of everything I saw today at the World Cup final, nothing ѕнσ¢кed me more than learning that a group of effeminate, vain men, full of faces and poses, who made me feel genuine secondhand embarrαѕѕment, are one of the biggest role models this current generation has. It's impossible that most people don't realize how serious this is."

Her comments quickly sparked a mαѕѕive backlash across social media. Not only did ARMY condemn her remarks, but many other internet users also criticized them as offensive, rooted in gender stereotypes, and racially discriminatory for targeting an Asian artist group. Facing intense public criticism, the influencer was forced to switch her Instagram account to private and announced that she would be taking a break from social media.

However, the controversy did not end there! According to multiple reports and viral social media posts, Bertolazzi soon faced even more serious consequences after her personal information was leaked and allegedly used in a series of actions against her.

Some individuals reportedly used her personal information to register her as an election monitoring volunteer in several вяαzιℓian states. Others allegedly submitted membership applications to the вяαzιℓian Workers' Party, a political party Bertolazzi has frequently criticized publicly.

There were also reports claiming that her home address had been added to the presidential correspondence program, resulting in political materials being repeatedly delivered to her residence. Her email address and phone number were also allegedly added to multiple advertising and marketing lists, causing her to receive a constant stream of unwanted calls and messages. In addition, her identity was reportedly used to create accounts on platforms including OnlyFans, OLX, and the food delivery app iFood.

While some people argued that leaking and abusing Bertolazzi's personal information was unacceptable regardless of her controversial remarks, others believed these consequences were the result of her disrespectful behavior toward the K-pop superstars, describing it as a case of "you reap what you sow."

Pietra Bertolazzi, however, is no stranger to controversy. She identifies herself as a Roman Catholic and an anti-feminist commentator. Over the years, she has repeatedly criticized feminism, opposed women's voting rights, and expressed support for a Catholic monarchy, in which political power is concentrated within the institution rather than determined through elections. She has also repeatedly argued that women should submit to men—views that have drawn significant criticism from the вяαzιℓian public.

As a result, many fans said they were not surprised by her offensive remarks toward BTS, viewing them as consistent with the ideology she has publicly expressed for years. Even so, they stressed that BTS did not deserve to become targets of such rhetoric, especially at a time when their World Cup performance was being celebrated around the world.

Fans commented: "Just a reminder: never pick a fιgнт with ARMY. You won’t win", "She was gonna make a big splash without knowing what's behind them: ARMY", "This woman is a heretic who dictates unbiblical rules, simply exploiting the scriptures to profit, make a fortune, and push her own doctrines", "Got Hybe Portal on my bookmarks for these things", "Don't rest until her account is taken down, REPORT!", "Who told you to mess with someone who was minding their own business?",...