JungJi

I guess that's what you get when 2 people that literally NEED to interact with each other while on stage, that when allowed to will seek each other out and feed of each other's energy, are suppressed and subdued for 5 concerts.

It's kind of like that pressure cooker you had on the fire and when you're done cooking you start releasing all the pressure caught up inside, so at first you let it out slowly (scared it will go off too violently) but the pressure release is too slow...

So then you push the valve a little more, maybe a little too much and...

And that's what it kind of feels like what we got in those 2 Baltimore concerts.

There is no way under the sun that I can post every single thing that happened over these two days.

Mostly day 2 though (there was definitely something in the air that day, including no pesky other member sitting in between them.

I guess Hobi had enough of those to on day 1.

Man looked so over those two. Haunted? Disgusted? Terrified?

All of the above?

😂🤣😂🤣

So they pretty much let them be day 2.

Big mistake, lol.

One that I do hope they make for the rest of this tour, may I say?

1:43 minutes of Jikookery from night 2 curtesy of @@jm_dogs:

Guys, there was so much more. When I say this was a snippet of what we got and mostly only night 2, I wouldn't be exaggerating. I have more gifs I diligently worked on and wanted to share here too but stupid Tumblr won't allow me to upload them.

It was a Jikook party. So much so that it had to be followed up with a TKK live.

🤣

But how embarrassing was it for TKKs, eh?

If the company thought they would be evening it out by giving us TKK after Jikook be wilding, well, scoff, what they actually did was emphasise just how different the dynamics are with those two duos. Just like they did with the Jeju episodes of AYS season 1.

JK's demeanor with JM, JK's attentiveness to JM, body language between the two. JM and JK together is electrifying. The intimacy off the charts.

And then you have the workout buddies. Yes, they have gotten closer and have more in common now that Tae is into the bodybuilding. Did you see how animated JK was when he was talking about working out, explaining the exercises to Tae? But once food was done and talk about working out was done, what was left? No inside jokes. No playful back and forth. No flirtatious silences. Only silence. So much silence that staff felt they had to step in to what? Wake them up? Give them a reason to be able to end the live?

And the views. I do hope that the company studies these things. Because the views for this supposedly much anticipated TKK live were really relatively low. I was watching the live and it was less than 3 million watching. JK solo lives of him gaming for hours have more than double that. Jikook lives the same. And the funny thing is that a hell of a lot of Jikookers were watching that live. More so than TKKs, lol. I mean TKKs they don't watch original content. If they had, they would have jumped that ship long time ago. Watching that live and thinking that these two are a couple you had to be really deep deep in your own fantasy world. So they don't watch it, they wait for the edits the next day with the cut up out of context moments in slow motion and arrows and circles all to the sound of sexy music playing.

And here I am digressing again. Figures. I really didn't want to go there. Thought of deleting this whole discussion, but nope. Not gonna. You know, once upon a time I was so worried about voicing my opinion like this. I literally let someone (what I thought at the time to be a bigger Jikook blogger) pressure me into deleting a post I wrote about the difference in the dynamics between JK and JM and JK and Tae during ITS2. You have no idea how I regret that now. Don't let anyone silence you. They can disagree with your opinion, but whatever that might be it's yours to have and share (if that's what you want to do). I've said this in the past and will say this again now, being open to hearing how other people think, what they think, is not a bad thing. It helps us grow as human beings. Understanding others. Listening and being able to respect other's opinions without having to agree with them. Living in echo chambers and blocking or cancelling anyone that might think differently than you is detrimental to yourself at the end of the day. Oh fuck, here I go again. Back to what matters. Jikook.

I've seen people talk about this moment, laughing about how JK was peacocking for JM.

To me, the thing that first came to mind was how this moment compacted Vminkook's dynamics. And even more so JK's behaviour when both Tae and JM are there with him.

Tae seeking JK's attention, holding it for a second and a half for JK turn away from Tae and to seek JM's attention. Once he's accomplished that he looses interest still focused on JM, turned away from Tae who is still on with that same thing he was doing to get JK'a attention. Yikes. But Tae has said this throughout the years time and time again. Complaining about how JK ignores him.

*Ignore the commentary, it's the only clip I could find of this moment with subtitles, lol. This was the least gag worthy one I found, believe me. And btw, back to my point about TKKs living on these slowmo edited clips, the shit that's out there... I can see how some people that don't understand just how fabricated this content is could fall for it.

This wasn't the only time Tae said this. He has repeated this sentiment several times over the years.

Sucks to be Tae when he's third wheeling with JM and JK I guess (he literally couldn't wait to get out of there back in Jeju, like how much of their shit can you really take? LOL).

On another note, JK knows what he's doing when he's puffing up JM's chesties besties. Knows exactly what it does to his bf.

Just as much as JM knew what he was doing to JK here:

I am actually quite astounded by JK's self control being able to do that live after the concert.

And then, he was VERY tired during that live...

Next stop Dallas!!

I hope all of y'all that will be going to see them there will get a happy joyful free Jikook like they were in Baltimore.

If only they could be for the rest of this tour.

Anygays! Here are my 5:AM thoughts. Don't look at me like that. We call this shit normal.

If i was dating any of them that shit would have pissed me the fuck off and broken my heart. Skinship between men in SK is normal, I get that. And if these 2 were awake and Jimin was just sitting on JK, i wouldn't care. BUT MOFOS ARE SLEEPING!!!!! If i am Jimin or JK's girl seeing this I'd be livid. Because these 2 are the 2nd biggest ship in the Army fandom and they just allowed for this image to be shared??? Just like that?? Why does my boyfriend think i would be okay with him giving their shippers even more ammunition to think he is dating his bandmate???? But that aside, did Jimin have to sleep ontop of JK!?!?! I can see an unoccupied long chair on the left? Why couldn't he have slept there instead?? Why would Jhope share this knowing i am at home alone because my boyfriend keeps leaving for weeks at a time? I don't need this reminder!!! I should be the one cuddling him in his sleep dammit!

Wdym people use this song to come out to each other??? 😭😭😭😭 is my boyfriend serious??? Why would he share this? Does he want people to think he's gay????

What's my boyfriend thinking?? Couldn't he have waited till pride month was over to use the rainbow colors on his damn post?! Everyone ships him with his friend, this is just gonna make people even more convinced he's gay hellooooooo!!!!

I am calling my boyfriend and we are breaking up. Should have done it sooner tbh.

And guys lets not forget their girlfriends are Koreans so they would have seen the rumours and they would know better than anyone what this means

In conclusion:

If Jikook are dating other people, man or woman, these people have no self respect and they don't love themselves.

This decision really says a great deal about the kind of artists BTS have become. More than anything, it shows that they’re driven by the art itself rather than by the pursuit of recognition. I’ve said this before, and I think it’s important to acknowledge that, when they first set out to become artists, it probably wasn’t solely because they loved making music. Like anyone pursuing a career in entertainment, they most likely wanted financial security, success, recognition, and all the opportunities that come with achieving that level of fame.

The difference is that they’ve now reached a point where they already have those things. They’ve built a career that very few artists in history could ever hope to achieve. They’ve sold millions of albums, broken records across the globe, filled stadiums on multiple continents, and become one of the most recognisable musical acts in the world. At this stage, they’re no longer chasing validation. They’re continuing because they genuinely love creating music, because they still have stories they want to tell, and because they have a deep sense of responsibility and appreciation for the fans who have supported them throughout their journey.

That’s why this decision carries so much weight. The fact that BTS chose to take this stance while they’re arguably at the absolute peak of their influence makes it all the more meaningful. Their participation in an event like the Grammys is valuable. Whether people like it or not, BTS generate enormous public interest. Their attendance brings media coverage, online engagement, viewers, and ratings, something the Recording Academy has benefited from on several occasions, just as many other award shows have benefited from BTS’s presence over the years.

By effectively saying, “You’re not going to separate us simply because you’re afraid of us,” they’ve made a remarkably strong statement. Of course, that’s an interpretation rather than something they explicitly said, but it’s difficult not to see the symbolism behind their decision. The Grammys recently introduced a category specifically recognising Asian artists rather than allowing those artists to compete solely within the existing general categories. If I’m not mistaken, the category isn’t limited to K pop artists but includes Asian artists more broadly.

This isn’t an entirely new conversation either. Similar debates emerged when separate categories for Latin artists were introduced. Those changes were praised by some but criticised by others, who argued that they created a form of segregation rather than genuine inclusion. More recently, after Bad Bunny dominated at last year’s Grammys, there was renewed discussion about the Academy’s apparent reluctance to fully embrace artists who don’t come from the English speaking world or who don’t primarily perform in English. For years, people have questioned whether international artists are truly given equal consideration in the main categories or whether they are subtly encouraged to remain in separate spaces.

BTS have spent the better part of a decade challenging those assumptions. They have consistently broken barriers that many people insisted couldn’t be broken. They’ve demonstrated, over and over again, that artists singing predominantly in Korean can compete directly with the biggest Western acts and, in many cases, outperform them commercially, culturally, and globally. They’ve disproved the long held belief that English is a requirement for worldwide success. That isn’t simply an achievement for BTS. It’s something that fundamentally challenged long established ideas within the music industry, and I don’t think everyone has been entirely comfortable with that reality.

I also think another factor is that the Western music industry has never truly been able to control BTS or the company behind them. Despite HYBE expanding internationally and acquiring American labels over the years, BTS themselves have remained remarkably independent compared with many global artists. They’ve never fully fit into the traditional Western industry system, nor have they relied on it in the way many international acts historically have. That independence has always made them something of an outlier, and I don’t think the industry particularly enjoys dealing with artists it can’t easily influence or shape.

Another thing the industry has never really been able to control is BTS’s fanbase. Just as importantly, it has never been able to recreate anything quite like ARMY. Of course, every fandom has its flaws, and I’ve criticised aspects of ARMY many times on this blog. No fandom is perfect. However, if you look at it purely from the perspective of the music industry, what BTS have built is extraordinary. It’s one of the most organised, passionate, dedicated, and influential fan communities ever seen. That’s the sort of relationship every entertainment company wishes it could create, yet very few have managed to replicate. That connection between BTS and ARMY has been one of the defining reasons they’ve reached the position they occupy today.

Because of everything they’ve achieved, BTS are now in the rare position of being able to make decisions like this without fearing the consequences in the same way other artists might. They don’t need to prove their legitimacy anymore. They don’t need a Grammy to validate their career.

That’s particularly striking when you consider the album they’re walking away with. Arirang is, in my opinion, objectively one of the strongest albums they’ve ever released. It’s the sort of record that could very realistically have received multiple Grammy nominations and perhaps even won several categories. And I’m not referring only to the music itself. The album’s artistic direction, its visual identity, the cinematography of the music videos, the production quality, the storytelling, and the overall creative vision all make it feel like a complete artistic project rather than simply a collection of songs.

What’s even more remarkable is that Arirang hasn’t only been embraced by BTS fans. It’s also been widely praised by critics, casual listeners, and the general public. It has been recognised far beyond the boundaries of the fandom. That’s why this decision feels so significant. I don’t quite know which word best captures it. “Risky” doesn’t seem entirely accurate because BTS are in such a secure position. At the same time, “brave” almost feels too simplistic. It sits somewhere between confidence, conviction, and principle. Whatever word eventually fits, it’s a decision that carries genuine weight.

To me, it once again demonstrates the scale of BTS’s influence and the confidence they have in both their artistry and the audience they’ve built over the years. More importantly, it reflects a great deal of self respect. It also reflects respect for their fans, because they’re making it clear that the values they believe in matter more than simply adding another trophy to an already historic career.

By essentially saying, “Don’t divide us. Music is music, and it shouldn’t be separated by language or geography,” they’ve also reopened a much broader conversation. I hope this decision encourages people to once again question whether the Grammys have long standing xenophobic tendencies in the way they approach international artists. More broadly, I hope it prompts discussion about whether the Western music industry as a whole still operates with similar biases, even if those biases aren’t always explicit.

It’s going to be fascinating to watch what happens next. I’m especially curious to see how other K pop groups respond because, whether people like to admit it or not, BTS have spent years setting the tone for much of the industry. If other groups continue submitting their work to the Grammys, and many of them almost certainly will, with some likely receiving nominations and perhaps even winning awards, it will be interesting to see how those decisions are viewed alongside the very clear position BTS have now taken.

After all, we’re talking about the biggest and most successful Korean group the music industry has ever seen. When a group of that stature makes a statement like this, people pay attention.

And do you know what makes this decision even more remarkable?

In all likelihood, and I’m saying this as objectively as I possibly can, the introduction of this new Grammy category probably represented BTS’s clearest opportunity yet to finally win a Grammy.

I don’t say that because I’m trying to diminish other artists or because I think BTS are entitled to the award. I say it because, considering the impact of Arirang, its critical reception, its commercial success, and the influence BTS continue to have worldwide, they would almost certainly have entered that category as one of the strongest contenders.

I’m also fairly certain they understood that. Their management almost certainly understood it too.

And despite recognising that this may well have been their most realistic path towards finally receiving a Grammy, they still chose to step away.

To me, that’s what makes this decision resonate even more deeply. They willingly turned away from what was probably their best chance of achieving the one accolade people have spent years insisting they still “needed” in order to complete their legacy. In doing so, they sent a message that was far more valuable than the trophy itself.

This decision really says a great deal about the kind of artists BTS have become. More than anything, it shows that they’re driven by the art itself rather than by the pursuit of recognition. I’ve said this before, and I think it’s important to acknowledge that, when they first set out to become artists, it probably wasn’t solely because they loved making music. Like anyone pursuing a career in entertainment, they most likely wanted financial security, success, recognition, and all the opportunities that come with achieving that level of fame.

The difference is that they’ve now reached a point where they already have those things. They’ve built a career that very few artists in history could ever hope to achieve. They’ve sold millions of albums, broken records across the globe, filled stadiums on multiple continents, and become one of the most recognisable musical acts in the world. At this stage, they’re no longer chasing validation. They’re continuing because they genuinely love creating music, because they still have stories they want to tell, and because they have a deep sense of responsibility and appreciation for the fans who have supported them throughout their journey.

That’s why this decision carries so much weight. The fact that BTS chose to take this stance while they’re arguably at the absolute peak of their influence makes it all the more meaningful. Their participation in an event like the Grammys is valuable. Whether people like it or not, BTS generate enormous public interest. Their attendance brings media coverage, online engagement, viewers, and ratings, something the Recording Academy has benefited from on several occasions, just as many other award shows have benefited from BTS’s presence over the years.

By effectively saying, “You’re not going to separate us simply because you’re afraid of us,” they’ve made a remarkably strong statement. Of course, that’s an interpretation rather than something they explicitly said, but it’s difficult not to see the symbolism behind their decision. The Grammys recently introduced a category specifically recognising Asian artists rather than allowing those artists to compete solely within the existing general categories. If I’m not mistaken, the category isn’t limited to K pop artists but includes Asian artists more broadly.

This isn’t an entirely new conversation either. Similar debates emerged when separate categories for Latin artists were introduced. Those changes were praised by some but criticised by others, who argued that they created a form of segregation rather than genuine inclusion. More recently, after Bad Bunny dominated at last year’s Grammys, there was renewed discussion about the Academy’s apparent reluctance to fully embrace artists who don’t come from the English speaking world or who don’t primarily perform in English. For years, people have questioned whether international artists are truly given equal consideration in the main categories or whether they are subtly encouraged to remain in separate spaces.

BTS have spent the better part of a decade challenging those assumptions. They have consistently broken barriers that many people insisted couldn’t be broken. They’ve demonstrated, over and over again, that artists singing predominantly in Korean can compete directly with the biggest Western acts and, in many cases, outperform them commercially, culturally, and globally. They’ve disproved the long held belief that English is a requirement for worldwide success. That isn’t simply an achievement for BTS. It’s something that fundamentally challenged long established ideas within the music industry, and I don’t think everyone has been entirely comfortable with that reality.

I also think another factor is that the Western music industry has never truly been able to control BTS or the company behind them. Despite HYBE expanding internationally and acquiring American labels over the years, BTS themselves have remained remarkably independent compared with many global artists. They’ve never fully fit into the traditional Western industry system, nor have they relied on it in the way many international acts historically have. That independence has always made them something of an outlier, and I don’t think the industry particularly enjoys dealing with artists it can’t easily influence or shape.

Another thing the industry has never really been able to control is BTS’s fanbase. Just as importantly, it has never been able to recreate anything quite like ARMY. Of course, every fandom has its flaws, and I’ve criticised aspects of ARMY many times on this blog. No fandom is perfect. However, if you look at it purely from the perspective of the music industry, what BTS have built is extraordinary. It’s one of the most organised, passionate, dedicated, and influential fan communities ever seen. That’s the sort of relationship every entertainment company wishes it could create, yet very few have managed to replicate. That connection between BTS and ARMY has been one of the defining reasons they’ve reached the position they occupy today.

Because of everything they’ve achieved, BTS are now in the rare position of being able to make decisions like this without fearing the consequences in the same way other artists might. They don’t need to prove their legitimacy anymore. They don’t need a Grammy to validate their career.

That’s particularly striking when you consider the album they’re walking away with. Arirang is, in my opinion, objectively one of the strongest albums they’ve ever released. It’s the sort of record that could very realistically have received multiple Grammy nominations and perhaps even won several categories. And I’m not referring only to the music itself. The album’s artistic direction, its visual identity, the cinematography of the music videos, the production quality, the storytelling, and the overall creative vision all make it feel like a complete artistic project rather than simply a collection of songs.

What’s even more remarkable is that Arirang hasn’t only been embraced by BTS fans. It’s also been widely praised by critics, casual listeners, and the general public. It has been recognised far beyond the boundaries of the fandom. That’s why this decision feels so significant. I don’t quite know which word best captures it. “Risky” doesn’t seem entirely accurate because BTS are in such a secure position. At the same time, “brave” almost feels too simplistic. It sits somewhere between confidence, conviction, and principle. Whatever word eventually fits, it’s a decision that carries genuine weight.

To me, it once again demonstrates the scale of BTS’s influence and the confidence they have in both their artistry and the audience they’ve built over the years. More importantly, it reflects a great deal of self respect. It also reflects respect for their fans, because they’re making it clear that the values they believe in matter more than simply adding another trophy to an already historic career.

By essentially saying, “Don’t divide us. Music is music, and it shouldn’t be separated by language or geography,” they’ve also reopened a much broader conversation. I hope this decision encourages people to once again question whether the Grammys have long standing xenophobic tendencies in the way they approach international artists. More broadly, I hope it prompts discussion about whether the Western music industry as a whole still operates with similar biases, even if those biases aren’t always explicit.

It’s going to be fascinating to watch what happens next. I’m especially curious to see how other K pop groups respond because, whether people like to admit it or not, BTS have spent years setting the tone for much of the industry. If other groups continue submitting their work to the Grammys, and many of them almost certainly will, with some likely receiving nominations and perhaps even winning awards, it will be interesting to see how those decisions are viewed alongside the very clear position BTS have now taken.

After all, we’re talking about the biggest and most successful Korean group the music industry has ever seen. When a group of that stature makes a statement like this, people pay attention.

And do you know what makes this decision even more remarkable?

In all likelihood, and I’m saying this as objectively as I possibly can, the introduction of this new Grammy category probably represented BTS’s clearest opportunity yet to finally win a Grammy.

I don’t say that because I’m trying to diminish other artists or because I think BTS are entitled to the award. I say it because, considering the impact of Arirang, its critical reception, its commercial success, and the influence BTS continue to have worldwide, they would almost certainly have entered that category as one of the strongest contenders.

I’m also fairly certain they understood that. Their management almost certainly understood it too.

And despite recognising that this may well have been their most realistic path towards finally receiving a Grammy, they still chose to step away.

To me, that’s what makes this decision resonate even more deeply. They willingly turned away from what was probably their best chance of achieving the one accolade people have spent years insisting they still “needed” in order to complete their legacy. In doing so, they sent a message that was far more valuable than the trophy itself.

Hi y'all.

I really didn't want to make this post.

Really didn't.

But I've been getting asks from some of you guys and although I am not going to answer your asks separately and am definitely not going to go into the nitty gritty of it, I do feel like this needs addressing.

JM and JK and all that is between them is A-OK.

I've been around here for years and Idk if it's newcomers that are getting all stressed out and all or just insecure Jikookers that go through this endless cycle time and time again, but this here, it needs to stop!!

Let me make it clear as day:

JK posting soulful songs does not mean he's depressed and broken up or arguing or fighting with JM.

JK loves love songs. He loves sad songs. He's covered some of them in the past as well. There are times when they are meaningful to him and times when he just likes them and wants to share them with us.

His cover for Falling for example. This one had zero to do with their relationship status and all to do with him personally loving the song (and very possibly also to do with JM loving it too).

On the other hand his cover of Hate everything clearly had to do with a situation he was in at the time (JM hospitalized, him not allowed to be there for him, the whole damn situation back at the start of 2022 - not them broken up but due to the restrictions at the time and him not being able to be there for JM with JM when he needed it).

I gotta say something else too.

Let's say JK is in a mood. That he's recommending these sad songs because he's sad. Not every damn thing is about the two as a couple. People need to remember that these two are 2 human beings, 2 individuals that have a life, a career, have wants and needs and good days and bad days and things that are pulling and pushing at them (even more so these two superstars with all the pressure on them, the comeback, the tour, what's next for BTS, the company, the fans and so forth). So him being a little soulful for a minute and a half doesn't have to do AT ALL with where he is in that relationship with JM.

I also have to say that not every what seems to be a breakup song falls on the person who listens to it, who takes something from it to himself in the same way. It can resonate with you and relate to you in other aspects of your life. Friendships coming to an end (ahm, remember how Face off was thought to be a breakup song but was about a friendship ending????), other meaningful relationships that might be ending or that future is unclear, a loss of a feeling towards something else, not necessarily a person (your passion for your work - remember how Muse is about JM's work as an artist through the language of love - this would be applying it in the opposite direction).

Bottom line - my personal opinion is that JK's IG posts are not a reflection of him being sad and definitely have nothing to do with his relationship with JM which is as strong as ever.

They are as inseparable as ever, when only we are allowed to see.

As for Paris.

Dear god, seriously?

We have them being as loud as hell during the European leg of this tour.

We have the lives and JK doubling down on saving JM, and Hobi's very intimate IG photo and JK's arm around JM walking him to the car only to go to his own, and butt slaps and pure happiness and heart pointing to each other.

But all of that is not enough when for 2 nights in Paris they are more subdued.

And don't come and say that there is more to that, that we didn't see them together in Paris, because throughout their tour, how many times did we see them out and about together?

Just the two of them?

Anyone?

Or with Jin or Hobi or Tae?

Anyone?

The only time we got to see them out together would be with all the other members going out for dinner together.

And btw, not seeing them out together kind of doesn't mean they haven't managed to go out together for a midnight walk perhaps? I mean, we wouldn't have knows that JK and Tae were out for a walk in Munich if Tae hadn't posted it himself. So to me, Tae's post kind of gave me hope that maybe at some stops they managed to do this. Not in Paris though (with the loads of fans and paparazzi lurking outside their hotel day and night).

But let's get back to Paris.

Gay Paree, said with a French accent (because that's the only way to go).

Silver day happened in Paris. The Bastille day fireworks happened in Paris. We know for a fact that JK filmed those fireworks and he wasn't with Tae and Hobi when he was doing that (I am going to go out on a limb and be brave enough to bet that time was spent with JM). His posts that followed was loud and clear.

We had their visit to the Tour de Eiffel. Where we also got to see that they were just fine. I'm not adding the pics here because of their source, but they were clearly inseparable there as well (JM hanging on to JK's jacket being one of those clues).

Then we had his post on 18 July. Day of concert 1 in Paris.

And yeah, they were subdued during the concert. But so were the others (this is coming from fans that attended the concert), because we had some high up dignitaries attending the concert (President of France high enough?). And although they were keeping away from each other, mostly, and at times very loudly, when the lights were off, when they thought they weren't seen, the masks were off and flirting was back to 100%.

Could there have been other influences to make them go quieter during the Paris leg?

For sure.

We had the Fifa performance coming up.

We had the buildup of several very loud moments prior to Paris that could have had some higher ups panties in a knot and could have had them asked to tone things down, at least openly. Who knows.

But this is the two of them when we aren't supposed to be watching:

Subdued doesn't mean sad. It just means holding back.

We also got them playful during Dynamite, you know, when they are allowed to be because it's part of the show. And yet, they know how to go the extra mile to make it even more playful.

I recommend you go read the post above again, with the red and black and everything that it symbolized as well.

If they weren't ok, if they were having problems, we wouldn't be getting any of that.

And the 19th, JK crying. Not about them as a couple. God, I find myself having to repeat this time and time again. Not everything is about them as a couple. Just like in real life, not everything that makes us sad or happy is about our relationship with our partners. Things happen around us, to us, that have nothing to do with our loved ones and they can influence our behavior, our mood, our feelings.

Both JK and JM stated in their ments that they are happy. This wasn't a lie. And at the same time JK told us he's sad the European leg is coming to an end, that the busy schedule prevents them from staying on, doing more. Could have been that, could have been the culmination of the really rough schedule (past and future), the pressure just building up until it all overflowed. Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with the status of his relationship with JM.

As for JM, he saw JK cry, at the start he wanted to go to him, as a natural instinct to calm him, sooth him. But I do think that he knows JK so well that he held back because JK needed to sooth himself at that point. JM going to him, approaching him, that would not sooth JK, that would have him breakdown even more, just like we saw back in 2019 in their last Seoul concert. Because JM is JK's safe place and the one person he can just fall to pieces around. And JM knew that and knew that JK wouldn't want that. Not the time and place. So he kept away, as far away as possible. On stage.

We need to remember that what we get to see are snippets of their lives. This comeback even less than before. But if you take a step back and look at the dynamics in general over the European leg and then in the USA for the Fifa event, you can see the consistence in their behavior around each other, with each other and the same old familiar dynamic.

This, btw, happened only a few days earlier.

You wanna tell me that only a few days later this was taken back?

We are talking about a relationship that has been going on since 2015 (go read my timeline). Through the hard times as a band, through the pandemic, through the solo era, through their military service, coming out even stronger on the other side. And suddenly it's all gone to shit? They are in an 11 year long relationship. Stable and calm and domestic. You need to stop looking for drama that isn't there.

Some tough love coming up next.

Know that I say this because I love y'all and care for your wellfare.

Just talked to a friend and she mentioned how we get so much from Jikook. Even though they are a private couple. Even though they are as of yet a gay closeted couple. And when we do it's, in her words: "happy happy joy joy". But then all it takes is one 2 millisecond edited clip or a IG sad song recommendation for people, again in her words: "to jump off a cliff". And she is so right. This is truly unhealthy how people perceive this relationship and how every little thing impacts them (the fans, not Jikook). I truly believe that if you are rattled so very deeply by these kind of things then you need to take a step back and rethink what this is doing to you. If you love those two and still want to continue and consume this content maybe removing yourself from SM for a bit, giving yourself some distance from it all. Going to a Macro view rather than Micro. If you look at everything that's happened over the past few weeks from afar, see the whole picture, you can see that all is well. But when you watch an edited 2 millisecond clip with zooming in on JK's facial expression (during a performance on stage) and start trying to dissect that without context and read into that and create a whole narrative out of that clip, well then maybe you need to distance yourself, because that isn't healthy.

It's very easy to fall down that rabbit hole. Let things like that consume you. But you need to not let it happen. Because at the end of the day JM and JK are 2 individuals that we do not know personally, that are living their lives mostly privately away from us and that shouldn't impact our lives in an unhealthy way.

I love those two.

I love who they are as human beings.

I love their love.

But there has to be a balance. A life - Jikook balance (just like our work-life balance).

I know that seeing them, their happiness, can be a supplier of dopamine for us (talking about chemically induced happiness...) and that could be great. But it can also be a two sided sword, because for some it becomes a fix. And when that fix isn't supplied, well we know where that leads to. You can't rely on these two beautiful human beings, who are strangers to you, for that daily fix of happiness. You have to find a way to be happy in your own life and then also enjoy what they have to give us.

You cannot base your happiness on 2 people that really don't have anything to do with you and that are fighting their own battles to live their lives as happily and freely as they can.

I've seen people who have ended up hating the two or one of them, ex Jikookers, who had gone down this road. Their love for Jikook turning into hate for at least one of the two. Blaming that person for the breakdown of Jikook as they perceived it. Creating and spreading lies and false narratives about that person. They have become so full of hate that they can't see how what they are doing is harming the other person in that equation. They are so filled with hate that they can't see how that second person loves the first more than anything in the world and by spreading this hate and hateful narrative they are harming the idol they say they love so dearly. They go down the TKKer path, creating false narratives around the obvious closeness of the two, tails of fanservice and other kinds of bullshit to explain away clear couple behavior that is still obvious and evident.

It's a slippery slope, one you don't want to go down.

So, at the end of this, all I want to say is that all is well in Jikook-land. They are good. They are together. They are happy with each other.

Can there be outside pressure? Sure.

Can they be struggling with that outside pressure, or with their busy schedules? 100%.

That has zero to do with them as a couple. They are ok. They are clearly still together and very much in love.

Just go watch them, listen to them. Do the Macro, not the Micro.

And the point is : "You cannot base your happiness on 2 people that really don't have anything to do with you and that are fighting their own battles to live their lives as happily and freely as they can."

Paragliding instructor reveals unreleased video of #JIMIN singing “Spring Day” in Zermatt!

A fan shared on RedNote that she had the same paragliding instructor as #JIMIN in Zermatt. According to her, the instructor showed an exclusive video of the artist singing “Spring Day”.

OP :

“My paragliding instructor was the same one who took Jimin.

What were the chances of this happening?! I can’t believe the luck I had to live this experience.

He sang ‘Spring Day’.

It’s such an emotional video. Jimin is so adorable.

I hope Jimin is always this happy. ”

——— How many more clips did the AYS editor edit out? 🤧🤧

Here you go

This one was painful for me

Was JK at it again?

First we had JK coming out of the closet, literally, in his live.

Then we had the flight to Brussels.

Yeah yeah, I know that wasn't JK's doing. and yet, this was kind of huge and definitely got some people's knickers twisted in a knot.

Then we had JK's Silver day post. The day. The song.

And now we have another song posted. A twilight/sunset view from the Eiffel tower.

With the song Midnight love by Girl in red.

And then we have this:

Is this JK trying to tell us something?

And what about JM?

JM liked JK's post.

This isn't something JM tends to do. He rarely likes JK's posts. As a matter of fact, both of them mostly tend to not like each other's posts on SM. They will like or repost same posts but not each others. The last post of JK's that JM liked was rather randomly JK's motorcycle clip posted on 24 May.

And now this one.

Makes you wonder.

Was that indeed a statement?

I guess it could all be one huge coincidence after all.

JK picking a song by an artist synonymous with queer.

JK picking a song with a line that fits them so perfectly.

And the lyrics embedding with the silver and gold.

All a huge fat coincidence.

But let's be real here.

When it comes to those two, do we really think it is?

All while in the midst of it all we have Black N White's logo going from: For BTS Jungkook and Jimin to now Featuring Jimin and Jungkook?

From this:

To this:

And tagging them too?

This isn't a cosmetic change of a logo.

Do we get just how huge this is? Do we?

So far we've had solo photos of the two. But what will we get when the two are in the one frame?

I can't wait and see where that adventure takes us. Can't help but feel something big is a coming.

Because yes, she also started tagging them on instagram when she never did before - DO WITH THIS INFO WHAT YOU WILL - and they also have been obviously looking at her camera, waving at her, posing for her. But all of this could be happening, among all speculations, simply because she wanted a rebranding or just because she’s respectful and consistent in her approach and work and Jikook appreciate it. Right? It’s a possibility and in order to stay grounded I take it into consideration.

What makes me raise my eyebrow though, it’s the fact that she never considered herself mainly a photographer. She has stated, if I’m not mistaken, that she does this as a hobby, in which she of course has been investing a lot and that I’m endlessly grateful for, but which is also the reason why she was often referred to as the “unofficial” Jikook photographer.

But NOW, now there’s a trademark situation going on. “All rights reserved, since 2019” explicitly stated. She always had copyright over her work, don’t get me wrong, but I wonder if the stage she’s entered now is more official. Or should I say, recognized.

A clear rebranding coinciding with it, and “for” became “featuring”. Now I’m thinking out loud, so please, keep in mind that this could both be far fetched or just wrong, but this change makes me feel like she went from doing this “for them”, as a gift, a passion, something she personally wanted to do for them, to doing this with them, and when I say “with” I mean as an authorized and professionalized, official practice. Basically their literal photographer.

Which could change everything, if you think about it, because not only would that mean Jikook have chosen to take such step forward with someone who supports them two only, but also because being recognized legally by the two people featured in your pictures means you could frame them also in other settings, when they want to involve you. For example a shooting, or some other form of content.

This makes me think on the hypothetical scenario where Jimin and Jungkook personally authorized her to take pictures of them and become an official fansite for them two only. Which would, actually, be pretty remarkable. It makes me wonder if the big 2026 is the year when we start calling BlacknWhite the official Jikook photographer, instead.

Again, don’t wanna be hyper focused on someone who’s maybe just doing their support thing and doesn’t want too much spotlight on them outside of their art, and don’t wanna make this bigger than it could be. So until, and if, we get more explanations, take this with a grain of salt.