BTS fans in Hollywood, sports and music: 16 of the K-pop band’s famous supporters

Ariana Grande’s link to BTS and their fans is grounded in concrete interactions, notably when Jungkook attended her “Sweetener” tour stop at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles in May 2019, and she shared a backstage photo thanking him for coming. She posted that his presence “meant so much” and acknowledged mutual admiration between her camp and BTS while they were in California for sold‑out Rose Bowl stadium shows on their “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself” tour. Though she does not speak about them frequently, her public gestures reflect direct artistic respect and peer‑level recognition, showing that even major pop stars are part of the wider community of BTS fans.

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Simu Liu has referenced being a BTS fan as part of a broader conversation about Asian visibility in Western media, citing them as an example of Asian artists succeeding on their own terms in global pop culture. He has mentioned attending K‑pop concerts and has used interviews and social platforms to argue that acts like BTS help normalise Asian leads in mainstream entertainment, aligning his fandom with his advocacy for better representation in Hollywood. Rather than tying his admiration to a single campaign or promotional moment, Liu presents his appreciation for BTS as part of a long‑standing interest in Asian creatives breaking barriers internationally.​

Lizzo’s connection to BTS has been most visible through her friendship with members V and Jimin, with whom she was photographed hanging out at a Harry Styles concert in Los Angeles and affectionately nicknaming them “VMIN”. She has freestyled about them, worn BTS‑themed accessories and referenced their bond on social media, signalling genuine warmth and mutual fandom rather than a purely strategic association. In interviews, she has grouped BTS among contemporary artists she respects for their stagecraft and audience rapport, positioning them as peers operating at a similarly high level of live performance.​

Son Heung‑min, captain of the South Korean national football team and star forward for Tottenham Hotspur, has publicly expressed his admiration for BTS as cultural ambassadors who have shone a spotlight on Korea. He has called them “national heroes”, spoken about listening to each new release and noted that their global success helps raise awareness of Korean culture alongside the visibility achieved by Korean athletes. His recognition places him among notable BTS fans, and the connection is reciprocal, with RM having been photographed wearing a Son Heung‑min hat during a Wembley appearance, reinforcing the sense that both figures see each other as fellow representatives of Korea on the world stage.

Coldplay’s relationship with BTS, cemented by their 2021 collaboration “My Universe”, is rooted in mutual artistic respect that pre‑dated their studio work together. Chris Martin has praised BTS for their songwriting, message and live performance, explaining that “My Universe” was conceived as a song about transcending barriers such as race and sexuality and that working with BTS was “one of the most enjoyable experiences” of his career. Their interactions, including Martin travelling to Korea to record and film with the group, are frequently cited as a benchmark example of a serious, creatively integrated East-West band partnership rather than a gimmicky crossover.​

Megan Thee Stallion’s association with BTS became highly visible with her verse on the official 2021 remix of “Butter”, a collaboration she fought to release in court when her label initially tried to block it. Legal filings described the remix as important to her career and relationships with fellow artists, underscoring that she saw the project as a meaningful creative opportunity rather than a novelty feature. Around the release, she spoke enthusiastically about BTS, appeared with them in promotional content and performed her verse live with the group, solidifying her status as a high‑profile fan whose engagement extended into shared artistic territory.​

Justin Bieber has acknowledged BTS on multiple occasions, signalling awareness of both their individual members and group achievements. In 2019, he sent a widely shared birthday message to Jungkook on social media, and in 2020, he publicly congratulated BTS on the success of their album Map of the Soul: 7, describing them as “killing it” and emphasising how hard they had worked to reach that level. These posts, combined with his broader comments about the pressures of global stardom, have placed him among major Western pop peers who treat BTS as contemporaries rather than distant juniors.​

Sandara Park, a second‑generation K‑pop star best known from 2NE1, has shown support for BTS by posting about them on social media. Her engagement with BTS is often framed within a lineage of Korean idols, with Sandara representing an earlier wave of K‑pop success and openly cheering on the newer group as they surpass domestic milestones and expand overseas touring. Her praise tends to focus on performance quality and global outreach, reflecting professional appreciation from someone who understands the demands of idol work and international promotion.​

Lea Salonga, the Tony‑winning singer and original voice of Disney’s Jasmine and Mulan, has repeatedly praised BTS, paying particular attention to their vocal capabilities. She has highlighted V (Kim Taehyung) as her favourite member, describing his tone as emotionally resonant and likening his voice to something that hugs the heart, while also recognising the group’s overall musicality and professionalism. Coming from a classically trained stage performer with decades of experience, her endorsements contribute to the argument that BTS possess strong technical and interpretive skills beyond typical boy‑band expectations.​

Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen was spotted attending BTS’s “Wings” tour concert at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong in 2017, where he was photographed among the audience and shared the moment on social media. As one of the region’s most recognisable faces, known for roles in films like Ip Man and Rogue One, his presence at the show generated buzz among local fans and media, highlighting BTS’s appeal to established action cinema icons. Yen’s attendance reflects a grounded, low-key fandom typical of Hong Kong celebrities engaging with K‑pop during the group’s early international expansion.

Tay Tawan stands out as one of Thailand's most prominent celebrity BTS fans, frequently praised for his vocal admiration of V across social media and interviews, where he has highlighted the member’s visuals, talent and charisma. As a leading actor known for roles in popular Thai BL dramas and with a massive following, his fandom has been widely covered in K-pop and Thai entertainment news, making him a high-profile example of BTS's appeal within the Thai industry.

Halsey’s relationship with BTS developed over several years, beginning with their first meeting at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards and culminating in the 2019 single “Boy With Luv”, where she features both on record and in the choreography. She has spoken about learning fan chants, attending their concerts and feeling welcomed by ARMY, calling the collaboration a “historic opportunity” and referring to the members as “my family” during a surprise joint performance in Paris. Her consistent public support before and after the release marks her as one of BTS’s most enduring Western pop allies, with a fandom that clearly predates their shared hit.​

Jimmy Fallon has played a significant role in showcasing BTS to US late‑night audiences, dedicating multiple elaborate segments to the group on The Tonight Show. In 2020, he hosted a special “BTS Week”, featuring a different performance each night, comedy bits and an extended interview, and has previously staged large‑scale set‑pieces with them, such as their Grand Central Terminal performance of “ON”. Fallon has spoken about genuinely enjoying their music and performances, and his sustained enthusiasm, beyond single‑episode promotion, has helped normalise BTS as recurring headline guests on mainstream American television.​

Becky G’s link to BTS centres on her 2019 trilingual single “Chicken Noodle Soup” with J‑Hope, which blended Korean, Spanish and English and is often cited as an early, organically conceived Latin–K‑pop collaboration. She has since spoken in interviews about the pride she feels in that project, noting that their connection is based on mutual respect as artists rather than constant public interaction, and celebrating how the track opened space for more multilingual pop. Her comments typically emphasise work ethic, cross‑cultural understanding and genre fluidity, illustrating how BTS’s influence extends into Latin pop networks.​

Sophia Laforteza, the Filipina member and leader of HYBE‑affiliated girl group Katseye, has long identified herself as a BTS fan, particularly singling out V as her favourite member and role model. Pre‑debut coverage and fan‑made profiles have noted that she followed BTS, TXT and LE SSERAFIM as a young K‑pop enthusiast, with her admiration for V’s performance style and charisma frequently mentioned. Her history as ARMY, documented in social media and fan discussions before she joined Katseye, underscores how BTS now inspire a new generation of idols inside HYBE’s own ecosystem as much as they do fans outside the industry.

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