There's no need to overstate BTS' global influence at this point. As the world's biggest music group, virtually every move made by the group—or any of its members—sparks mαѕѕive media attention across the globe. Their immense commercial power has also made them some of the most sought-after celebrities for luxury houses and global brands eager to secure endorsement deals.

j-hope himself currently serves as a global ambαѕѕador for prestigious brands including Louis Vuitton and Audemars Piguet. Earlier this July, the BTS rapper was also unveiled as the face of Samsung's latest Galaxy campaign. It didn't take long for the partnership to demonstrate his enormous brand power, especially after he seemingly "leaked" the company's unreleased smartphone ahead of its official debut.

According to a post shared by Pop Core on X, content surrounding j-hope's α¢¢ι∂єитal Galaxy Z Fold 8 "leak" has amαѕѕed a staggering 158.1 million views on TikTok. The figure includes countless fan edits and viral discussions that erupted after eagle-eyed ARMYs noticed the rapper using what appeared to be Samsung's unreleased foldable smartphone.

The speculation began just days before Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event. During the soundcheck for BTS' sold-out ARIRANG World Tour concert in Paris, fan-recorded videos captured j-hope taking photos of the au∂ιєnce with what appeared to be a light-purple foldable device. Fans were quick to notice the phone's noticeably wider design, leading many to speculate that it was Samsung's yet-to-be-announced Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The buzz reached another level when j-hope uploaded a short Instagram Story showing himself filming a mirror selfie with the same device. Although the Story was quickly deleted—apparently after he realized he had revealed an unreleased product—fans had already captured screenshots and screen recordings, allowing images of the phone to spread rapidly across social media. One X post related to the incident alone has since surpαѕѕed 1.7 million views.

Not long afterward, additional photos and videos of j-hope arriving at Incheon International Airport reignited online discussions. Fans once again spotted him carrying the same light-purple foldable phone, fueling even more speculation that the BTS star had unintentionally revealed Samsung's upcoming flagship device before its official launch.

After Pop Core reported that the viral moment had generated 158.1 million TikTok views, many fans described it as yet another example of j-hope's extraordinary marketing influence. One fan commented: "It was just a casual reveal, yet it went viral far beyond his fandom. That's an effective marketing strategy and a testament to j-hope's incredible brand impact. KING!"

Many others echoed similar sentiments, with some even arguing that the BTS rapper's pre-release "leak" at the concert generated more buzz than Samsung's official promotional campaign itself. While many praised Samsung for its smart collaboration with j-hope, others couldn't stop marveling at the BTS star's remarkable global influence:

- The IT boy and true trendsetter for real. Oh, j-hope u'r always gonna be popular

- WTFFFF?!!!!!! Jhope You're INSANE. J-HOPE X SAMSUNG J-HOPE UNFOLDS GALAXY

- J-Hope turned a concert into the biggest tech teaser of the year

- Even his casual reveal, went viral gaining a million views that's the real impact ...that's why all the j-hope haters are crying every d*mn day

- When I told you it was a smart promo move from him.. By God, Samsung's madness won

- Mind you it’s just a reveal not a comeback. My marketing genius

- And this is why hyping up Hobi’s content and engaging with it matters (while avoiding silly pity parties that make no sense considering we see Hobi going viral 24/7)

- Only j-hope could α¢¢ι∂єитally turn a product reveal into one of the biggest marketing moments of the year. His influence is on another level

- Samsung couldn't have asked for better promotion. One casual Story and the entire internet started talking about the Galaxy Z Fold 8

- This wasn't even an official advertisement, yet it generated more hype than most product launches. That's the j-hope effect