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Global pop icons BTS made a historic return to the 2026 American Music Awards (AMAs) as both prominent nominees and presenters. They completely dominated the evening by winning all three categories they were nominated for: “Artist of the Year,” “Song of the Summer” for their chart-topping track Swim, and “Best Male K-Pop Artist.”
Following such a massive sweep, most Hollywood celebrities would head straight to an exclusive industry afterparty. However, BTS chose a completely different path. Instead of mingling with fellow award winners, the members immediately hosted a live broadcast on Weverse to celebrate and chat directly with their global fanbase, ARMY.
RM Explains the Decision to Skip the Party
During a solo Weverse livestream, BTS leader RM pulled back the curtain on why the group skipped the high-profile industry gathering. He explained that the decision came down to understanding and respecting the personal comfort zones of his fellow members.
According to RM, a major factor was that several members simply feel uncomfortable in intense networking environments. Additionally, he shared his leadership concerns regarding the language barrier, noting he worried that some members might feel overwhelmed communicating entirely in English for hours.
Fans Praise RM’s Thoughtful Leadership
The livestream revelation quickly went viral across social media platforms. Fans heavily praised RM for being an incredibly considerate and protective leader.
“He completely understands that some of the guys are natural introverts who need to recharge their energy after major social events,” one fan noted online.
Rather than forcing the entire group into a draining social situation for the sake of Hollywood networking, RM ensured his team could unwind comfortably together while giving back to the fans who made their historic night possible.
From Hallways to the Biggest Dressing Room
During his interactions, RM also shared a deeply emotional reflection on how drastically the industry’s treatment of BTS has changed over the years. He drew a sharp contrast between their very first AMAs appearance and their triumphant 2026 return.
| Award Show Year | Backstage Treatment and Experience |
| AMAs 2017 | The group had no dedicated dressing room and had to get their makeup done in the hallways while other stars walked past. |
| AMAs 2026 | BTS was assigned the single largest dressing room at the venue, with event staff and music legends treating them with immense respect. |
RM emphasized that this incredible evolution is entirely due to the unwavering support of ARMY worldwide.
Creative Insights Behind the Album ‘ARIRANG’
Beyond the awards show gossip, RM opened up about the creative process behind their latest comeback album, ARIRANG. Following the completion of their mandatory military service, the group entered a strict music camp in Los Angeles to forge a new musical identity for their 30s.
The process was far from simple. Because the members had spent time exploring diverse solo musical styles during their hiatus, aligning on a single creative direction proved to be incredibly difficult. However, RM noted that their mutual respect kept the group unified, calling the final album an absolute miracle.