Lance Joseph Martinez

Lea Salonga Opens Up About Unfollowing BTS’ RM and J-Hope, Reflects on Accountability

Article (news)

<p>Recently, fans of K-pop supergroup <strong>BTS</strong>, known as <strong>ARMY</strong>, noticed that theater icon<strong> Lea Salonga</strong> had unfollowed member<strong>s J-Hope</strong> and <strong>RM</strong>, sparking curiosity among fans given her long-standing and vocal support for the group.</p><p>The unfollowing came shortly after J-Hope and RM were spotted attending a<strong> Chris Brown </strong>concert, leading fans to speculate that the development was connected to Lea’s previous comments regarding the issue.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787678731767[image] - 3956723.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo by Danny Kaan from @msleasalonga</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>On Tuesday, August 25, Lea held an <strong>#AskMissLea</strong> session on her <strong></strong>Threads<strong> </strong>account, where she invited fans to ask her questions. “Hey, gang… I’ve got nothing to do this afternoon, so how about an #AskMissLea session? An hour maybe, or if it’s fun, longer. However, let’s lay down some ground rules,” the Broadway star wrote.</p><p>Fans quickly took the opportunity to ask her about BTS, with one user specifically bringing up her decision to unfollow J-Hope and RM. “Your statement on the CB &amp; RM/Jhope issue was firm &amp; appreciated. Has your point of view changed since then?” one of the users asked.</p><p>The 55-year-old<strong> “Pride of the Philippines” </strong>then explained that while she did unfollow the two BTS members, the decision was ultimately made for her own well-being and was not intended to punish them.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787678998647[image] - 7976195.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">RM | Photo from @rkive</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787678871228[image] - 5000796.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">J-Hope | Photo from @uarmyhope</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>“Thank you for asking so kindly. First off, my being a fan can be equated to a single grain of sand on a massive beach. Whatever my actions are won&#x27;t affect anyone, except maybe cause consternation in the minds of other fans, which I do expect and accept responsibility for,” she wrote.</p><p>Lea went on to explain that she realized she needed to take a step back after the situation began affecting her emotionally. “Yes I did unfollow, but I did it for my own sake. It&#x27;s not meant to be punitive to either of them, at all.”</p><p>“When I recognized that the news or event of the two members of BTS has made me upset and sad, or way too affected, that’s when I recognized that it was unhealthy for me,” she said, adding that stepping back became the solution.</p><p>“As many fans have rightly pointed out, we are owed nothing really. They are autonomous human beings, but so am I, and whatever decisions I make are mine alone. If I hurt anyone in the aftermath, that isn&#x27;t my intention but I&#x27;m sorry if I hurt you nonetheless,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787678803068[image] - 6456177.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @msleasalonga</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Despite her decision, Lea made it clear that she remains grateful for the impact BTS has had on her life since she discovered the group in 2020. The Broadway star shared that she found BTS at a particularly difficult period in her life, as she was “navigating my marriage ending, raising a teenager, and a global pandemic (not to mention the occasional death threat due to politics).”</p><p>“They saved my sanity when I needed saving. I&#x27;ll never forget that,” she wrote.</p><p>Lea first became interested in BTS in August 2020 after watching their then-new single “Dynamite.” She initially found herself drawn to V, or Kim Taehyung, but eventually immersed herself in the group’s music, performances, concerts, and behind-the-scenes content.</p><p>Over the years, she became one of the more prominent celebrity supporters of the group, openly rallying behind BTS online, celebrating their releases, and attending their concerts.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787678543248[image] - 1405028.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Lea Salonga and her son Nic Chien at BTS&#x27; concert in New Jersey | Photo from @msleasalonga</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Her decision to unfollow J-Hope and RM therefore came as a surprise to many fans, particularly because of her long-standing connection with the group.</p><p>During her #AskMissLea session, Lea also addressed another issue after being called out by a fan over some of her past actions. “I got yelled at here today for choices I’ve made that make me come across as hypocritical or perhaps problematic. I knee-jerk blocked without reflection. You know what, that person was right. Absolutely right,” she admitted.</p><p>She then reflected on having photos taken with people she would later come to view as problematic. While those decisions did not seem significant to her at the time, she said they eventually became a source of discomfort and even kept her up at night.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787679032128[image] - 6433814.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo by Danny Kaan from @msleasalonga</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Through further research, thought, and reflection, Lea said she realized that she needed to confront those decisions and hold herself accountable.</p><p>“How do I demand accountability from anyone if I’m unable to be accountable in turn? Can’t just talk the talk, gotta walk the walk, too. I know that I can’t turn back the clock and undo what I’ve done. All I can do is learn from it and do better moving forward. That’s it. That’s all,” she concluded.</p><p>Meanwhile, Lea is set to make history as the first Filipino to receive a star on the<strong> Hollywood Walk of Fame</strong>.<strong></strong> The Tony Award-winning icon will receive the 2,855th star in the Live Performance category on September 4, 2026 at Hollywood Boulevard.</p><p>She is also part of the voice cast of <strong>DreamWorks</strong> <strong>Animation’s </strong>upcoming film <strong><em>Forgotten </em></strong><strong><em>Island</em></strong>, where she voices the formidable <strong>Manananggal</strong>, referred to as <strong>Manang </strong>in the film, a feared creature from the mystical island of <strong>Nakali</strong>.</p><p>The animated film, which highlights Philippine culture and folklore, is set to premiere nationwide in the Philippines on<strong> September 23, 2026</strong>.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcd6kGcMSMj/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=485&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1013510.299999997%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Lead photos from <strong>@msleasalonga</strong> and<strong> W Korea</strong></p>

<p>Lea Salonga shares why she recently unfollowed two members of her favorite K-pop group, BTS, despite being a supporter of the group since 2020.</p>

Lea Salonga shares why she recently unfollowed two members of her favorite K-pop group, BTS, despite being a supporter of the group since 2020.