BTS Makes History At 2019 Billboard Music Awards; EXO-L & iGOT7 Slam Billboard For "Disrespecting" Their Fav K-Pop Groups
BTS made another history ahead of the official release of their new album, Map of the Soul: Persona, on April 12. The chart-topping K-pop group has received two nominations for the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, making them the first K-pop group to ever do so.
BTS is nominated for Top Duo/Group for the first time and once again get a nod for the Top Social Artist category for three years in a row. Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook are up against Dan + Shay, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5 and Panic at the Disco for the Top Duo/Group category. Many BTS's ARMY expressed how proud they are of the boys as the group finally received recognition for their music and not just because of their popularity.
In the Top Social Artist category, BTS will go head-to-head with fellow K-pop male groups EXO and GOT7 as well as Ariana Grande and Louis Tomlinson. This is the first time EXO and GOT7 received a nomination from BMAs.
The Bangtan Boys has snagged the trophy for Top Social Artist for the past two years. They also attended the event in 2017 and 2018.
The 2019 Billboard Music Awards will be held on May 1 from the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas. BTS is expected to attend the award show this year as the group will be in the U.S. around the time of BMAs award night. The septet is slated to kick off their Speak Yourself world tour with a two-night concert at the Rosebowl Stadium in California on May 4 and 5.
As for EXO and GOT7, their respective agencies have yet to issue an announcement whether or not the groups will attend the event. The 2019 BMAs will air live on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Meanwhile, some EXO and GOT7 fans slammed BMAs for "disrespecting" the groups in the announcement for Top Social Artist nominees. Although fans were happy about the groups' first ever nomination, EXO-Ls and iGOT7s feel that the award show is not giving the groups the respect they deserve.
In the BMAs' nominee announcement video, BTS, Ariana Grande, and Louis Tomlinson have photos by their names. EXO and GOT7, on the other hand, do not.
Fans criticized BMA for lack of respect to the groups. Many pointed out that BMAs could easily acquire the photos of the two K-pop groups that they can include in the announcement instead of just their names.
#BBMAs Top Social Artist:
@BTS_twt
@weareoneEXO
@GOT7Official
@ArianaGrande
@Louis_Tomlinson pic.twitter.com/SMlN7131As — Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) April 4, 2019
