Angry BTS fans create own awards on Twitter after boycotting MTV show
The alternative ceremony was held as a protest after the band wasn't nominated in mainstream categories at the Video Music Awards.
(Photo: Instagram/bts_official)
In a snub to the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) held on Monday (Aug 26), BTS ARMY – the name for the K-pop group’s fan collective – decided to hold their own BTS Music Video Awards online.
The alternative awards, held on Twitter and started by @Highlight_Army, was a way for the fans to show their displeasure at the band's lack of nominations at the VMAs. "BTS were snubbed. We know it. The media knows it. So we propose that we give them none of our views," tweeted @Highlight_Army.
Fans could vote for different categories such as Best Social Message, Hidden Gem and Best Styling through a website and several hashtags were used on Twitter, including #BTSMVawards and #BTSMVAs.
The ARMYs then got together for a streaming party where they chatted about their love of the group and their favourite videos. The more creative fans worked on fan art where they photoshopped the band and other celebrities – including Beyonce and Queen Elizabeth (!) – walking the purple carpet.
Look who just showed up!! Queen Elizabeth is all decked out in her purple fit to support the Kings�������� pic.twitter.com/3AZWVgcYLm
— �� �������� ���� �� �������� (@dusk_winter) August 26, 2019
There was also some controversy surrounding the introduction of the Best K-Pop category at this year’s VMAs. In an op-ed on Teen Vogue in July, a writer argued that the addition of the category "just reiterates a tendency in Western awards shows to 'celebrate' non-Western, non-English speaking, non-white artists by separating them away from their accepted, non-othered counterparts."
@Highlight_Army tweeted at the end of the show: "We want to thank you all for participating in this project! It started as a way to speak out against gatekeepers in the industry, but become a beautiful ARMY x BTS memory! Let's always fight for @BTS_twt and speak up when we know something isn't right."
BTS, arguably the world's biggest boyband at the moment, did walk away with two wins at the actual VMAs in the Best K-Pop category for their song Boy With Luv with Halsey, as well as Best Group.
