Zionism And More: BTS Jimin’s Collaboration With Sofia Carson Divides The Fandom

Some are jumping to her defense.
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BTS Jimin‘s collaboration news with American actress and singer Sofia Carson has divided ARMYs.

Jimin
Jimin
Sofia Carson | Vogue
Sofia Carson | Vogue

Previously, BIGHIT MUSIC announced via Weverse that Jimin will make his comeback with a second solo album titled MUSE, documenting “his journey in search of the source of his inspiration.” It will include seven songs, including his previously released fan-dedicated song “Closer Than This.”

Hello.
This is BIGHIT MUSIC.

We are excited to share details about the release of BTS member Jimin’s second solo album, “MUSE.”

Following his first solo album, “FACE,” where he sought to explore his true identity, “MUSE” documents his journey in search of the source of his inspiration.

Showcasing Jimin’s expanded musical spectrum, “MUSE” includes seven tracks, including the fan song “Closer Than This,” released in December 2023.

We ask for your continued love and support for Jimin’s second solo album, “MUSE.”

Pre-Order Period: Starts 11 AM, Tuesday, June 18, 2024 (KST)
Release Date and Time: 1 PM, Friday, July 19, 2024 (KST)

— BIGHIT MUSIC

Jimin-MUSE_notice-preview

Today, the official tracklist dropped, revealing the titles of all seven songs. The tracks appear to be 1. “Rebirth,” 2. “Interlude Showtime,” 3. “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (Ft. Loco)” [PRE RELEASE], 4. “Slow Dance (Ft. Sofia Carson),” 5. “Be Mine,” 6. “Who” [ TITLE TRACK], 7. “Closer Than This.”

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| HYBE

Sofia Carson, known for Disney‘s The Descendants and Pretty Little Liars, also shared cover art for “Slow Dance” via her social media accounts. On Instagram, she added, “can’t wait to ‘slow dance’ with you…” D

Some ARMYs, fans of both artists, are anticipating the upcoming collaboration. They think the two singers’ voices will sound beautifully together.

Yet, some ARMYs had mixed reactions, remembering her history with BTS.

Sofia Carson actually met BTS at The 2019 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs). At the time, Sofia Carson sparked backlash from ARMYs as she suddenly jumped into a group photo with BTS, even touching J-Hope‘s shoulder while they were taking their photos on the red carpet. Netizens believed it was a “clout-chasing” move, as the members appeared shocked and puzzled, as BTS and she had no connections before this.

Additionally, Sofia Carson covered BTS’s hit song “Boy With Luv” at The 2019 Radio Disney Music Celebration (previously known as the Radio Disney Music Awards). This performance was criticized then, as she sang only the English lyrics of “Boy With Luv.”

Yet, these criticisms are only the beginning. Sofia Carson also has a controversial history that many ARMYs find objectable.

Famously, Sofia Carson performed all eight songs and starred as Cassie in Netflix‘s 2022 film Purple Hearts, adapted from Tess Wakefield‘s novel of the same name.

Its story follows an aspiring singer-songwriter named Cassie and a Marine named Luke, who agree to get married in order to receive military benefits and pay their debts.

— Wikipedia

Nicholas Galitzine (left) and Sofia Carson (right) | Netflix
Nicholas Galitzine (left) and Sofia Carson (right) | Netflix

Some ARMYs found it amusing that she collaborated with a BTS member and is known for this role. In it, Cassie becomes a military wife, and ARMYs have joked they, too, are military wives, as 6/7 members are fulfilling their mandatory military service. Additionally, the title’s name is Purple Hearts, which is taken from the “United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving.” Yet, for ARMYs, it reminds them of BTS, as purple hearts are often used for BTS due to the V-coined term “Borahae” (I Purple You).

Despite this “connection,” many found this movie problematic, as it felt incredibly pro-military. In the film, Cassie is a singer and waitress/bartender who has type 1 diabetes and struggles to afford insulin. She ended up meeting U.S. Marine Luke (Nicholas Galitzine), a recovering addict who owed $15,000 USD to his dealer. As they were both hard up for money, they agreed to “marry for military benefits and pay their debts” despite their political and social differences.

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By the end, it felt it was Cassie more than Luke who had a character arc and developed sympathy toward the military, despite the U.S. military being responsible today for many atrocities and war crimes. Some language used throughout the movie was also offensive. It ultimately felt like pro-military propaganda, as Cassie fell in love with the marine.

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Netizens have also alleged that Sofia Carson is part of “one of Colombia’s most corrupted and hated families,” as her real name is Sofía Lauren Daccarett Char. Allegedly, she comes from a family of corrupt politicians with links to human and drug trafficking, terrorism, etc.

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Sofia Carson has also been known to be Zionist.

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Since October 2023, over 37K Palestinians, many of which are women and children, have lost their lives. 85,523 have been injured in Israel’s war on Gaza, with Palestinians starved, displaced, and having lost their homes, families, and friends.

Still, many stand by Israel’s actions, claiming it was justified due to Hamas’ attacks on October 7. According to Wikipedia, these attacks “killed 1,139 people, including 764 civilians and 373 Israeli security personnel. A further 251 persons were taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel to the Gaza Strip.”

Yet, others feel Hamas’ actions were also in retaliation to the long history of Israel’s mistreatment of Palestine, as Israel is technically illegally occupying Palestinian land. According to a 2017 Amnesty article, “For the last 50 years, Israel has been forcing thousands of Palestinians off their land, occupying and illegally using it to create settlements that exclusively house Jewish Israeli settlers.”

Sofia Carson has liked and shared much Zionist propaganda via social media. According to @Povtarg via X (formerly Twitter), Carson engaged with a post “celebrating the liberation of a zionist that contributed the m*ssacre of dozens of palestinians just a week ago.”

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She and producer Tommy Brown, who worked on “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band,” are both known to engage in Zionist propaganda frequently. For instance, Brown interacts with HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun.

So, ARMYs are calling on each other to boycott the songs that Tommy Brown and Sofia Carson participated in while continuing to trend “#HybeDivestFromZionism.”

On the other hand, some ARMYs are defending Sofia Carson. They pointed out that she is a UNICEF ambassador, like BTS, advocating for children’s rights. As UNICEF is working to “provide urgent aid to innocent Palestinians facing a humanitarian crisis,” she has retweeted a UNICEF post urging those to help Palestinians in Gaza, as well as shared her own post, writing, “In this war, it is the children who suffer.”

ARMYs are continually urging HYBE to divest from Zionism, as Scooter Braun is a proud Zionist, and HYBE artists have collaborated with known Zionists. Read more below.

Scooter Braun’s Retirement Statement Has Fans More Upset Than Ever

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