Showbiz is a glamorous world, but also a complex maze—one of the most rumor-ridden environments, where any piece of information can be distorted and spread at lightning speed. Even well-known stars with clean personal lives and transparent, steadily advancing careers can hardly avoid baseless rumors or malicious gossip.

BTS is, of course, no exception—especially at a time when the group has just made a spectacular comeback that shook the world after a three-year hiatus due to military service. Recently, BTS has been caught up in a series of false rumors, including allegations of manipulated achievements, internal discord, and misleading information targeting individual members. The growing wave of controversy has not only affected the group’s reputation and image but has also raised concerns about potential financial impacts.

One of the most notable waves of false rumors involves suspicions that the group’s Spotify performance data was fabricated. According to a report from Chosun Biz on April 3, 2026, the news originated from an unverified image containing streaming metrics for the title track “SWIM” from BTS’s fifth full album “Arirang,” which spread rapidly across social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter).

The image claimed that as of the 1st, the daily streams of “SWIM” on Spotify had dropped to just 5,198 plays—a dramatic decline of over 10 million streams, equivalent to a 99.95% decrease compared to the previous day. This figure not only circulated on social media but also reached stock discussion forums on portal sites, causing some investors to worry about its potential impact on share prices.

However, the data was later confirmed to be false. On April 5, HYBE stated in an official announcement: "The image in question is not official statistical data, and the numbers themselves are unrealistic. We have confirmed with Spotify that this is not actual data."

In addition, Chosun Biz pointed out that fake news surrounding BTS goes beyond manipulated numbers. Recently, baseless rumors about member Kim Seok-jin’s body proportions have also been spreading across online communities. Some alleged that the management company edited images because he appeared shorter in a particular photo. Experts explain that body proportions can appear different depending on camera angles, posture, and distance from others in a photograph.

Some analyses suggest that these stories may be part of broader efforts to create confusion by exploiting BTS’s global popularity. The possibility of a coordinated attack targeting the artists—often referred to as “reverse viral” (with malicious intent)—has also been raised. Concerns are especially growing as fake news distorting performance-related metrics, such as streaming numbers, could mislead not only fans but also investors.

In response, HYBE emphasized the seriousness of the situation and noted that it is actively considering appropriate legal measures. A HYBE representative stated: "The distribution of unverified false information related to our artists goes beyond defamation and can cause serious damage to our overall business. We are continuously monitoring those spreading fake news and are considering strict legal action without leniency."

Meanwhile, fans noted that such incidents are not new for the group. They recalled similar concerns during the members’ solo releases, when questions arose about discrepancies in streaming numbers. At the same time, they expressed relief that the management company has finally taken action and agreed with its zero-tolerance stance toward malicious actors. Some fans commented:

- I feel so f***ing happy. They boys are FINALLY being protected.

- fcking finally!! I need hybe to investigate spotify bc there is no way only them are being targeted like this while others get a sudden rise of almost 1M on the first day of every month

- A year pαѕѕed of members solo songs loosing so much streams and only now are they looking into this situation

- Hybe should have looked into this matter from the day one when members were losing streams and they got drag from western and kpop stans unnecessary but I guess better later than never

- fckkk arent they aware these have been happening for months now. i wish they would address the issues about their solo songs too

- Sue them and while you're at it look into hanteo too

- Suing online haters takes time because it’s a complex process that can’t be rushed. Delays don’t mean inaction; they reflect the careful legal work needed to protect rights. Meanwhile, harmful posts keep coming, showing how hard it is to tackle online defamation quickly

- Not surprising that everyone seems eager to drag BTS, they saw how the group still managed to get mαѕѕive numbers and social buzz after military in their 13th year with no signs of slowing down. Its not sustainable for kpop to have all the spotlight taken away by 1 group.