BTS leader RM, or Kim Nam-joon, has set off a massive online uproar after a Japanese tabloid claimed he puffed away in Tokyo’s no-smoking zones right after the group’s huge ARIRANG world tour shows. Coming off sold-out Tokyo Dome gigs on April 17-18 that drew 110,000 fans—their first there in seven years—this story hit like a spark in dry grass.
Read more: BTS Star V Reveals He “Tried Very Hard to Forget” About the Group to Focus On Himself
Shukan Bunshun dropped the bombshell on April 22, saying RM bar-hopped through Shibuya’s izakayas and streets until 1 a.m. with pals, lighting up despite big no-smoking signs everywhere. Photos showed him allegedly tossing butts on the ground in building hallways—no ashtrays in sight—and ignoring a security guard’s heads-up.
BTSのリーダー・RMは渋谷の居酒屋＆バーをハシゴして路上喫煙《警備員が明かす
今日の防弾少年団ラップモンスターの近況：日本の渋谷の禁煙区域で道を塞ぎ、タバコの吸い殻を無断投棄したところ、週刊文春に捕まった。 pic.twitter.com/1PRq6x3cbt
— I’m Okay ⌘ (@ohlala573) April 22, 2026
A female staffer even had to pick up the mess afterward, the report said. Japan’s super-strict rules make this a big no-no, often seen as rude public behavior.
Social media blew up fast. Disappointed voices called it “poor manners” and a bad look for BTS fresh from military service: “This shows zero respect for local rules,” one local commenter fumed.
Reddit’s r/BTSnark ripped in: “A misogynistic group with self-hating fans defending a man watching a woman pick up his cigarette butts. So dehumanizing.”
“The problem isn’t smoking, it’s the fact he has Zero civic sense,” tweeted on disgruntled X user. Another said the BTS ARMY would be “front row hating” if another Kpop idol was caught smoking in a non-smoking area.
Read more: BTS Agency HYBE Hit by Police Warrant Scandal as Founder Bang Si Hyuk Faces Arrest
But plenty of ARMYs fired back hard. “He’s a grown man in his 30s—what, you want him acting like a kid? Be serious,” tweeted @polarnight613. Another tweeted, “bts scandals are so hilarious to me atp, their BIGGEST scandal is dating rumor? smoking? falling off electric scooter that kids ride? supporting feminist authors? Not acknowledging people they accidentally follow?”
Smoked in a no-smoking zone and threw the used cigs on the street in Japan.
The problem isn’t him smoking it’s the fact that he has Zero civic sense. https://t.co/MKxagxfY6c
— 〘〙★happiness 103%★ (@shooter4kjs) April 22, 2026
bts scandals are so hilarious to me atp, their BIGGEST scandal is dating rumor? smoking? falling off electric scooter that kids ride? supporting feminist authors? Not acknowledging people they accidentally follow?
Imagine saying you canceling 30 yo grown men over this?
— Lizz⊙⊝⊜ misses taegiᯓᡣ (@polarnight613) April 22, 2026
Armys are trying to cover up and defend RM for smoking in a public non-smoking area, but if it were any other K-pop idol, they’d be front row hating on them…
— T (@Wakeazul) April 22, 2026
BigHit Music and HYBE haven’t said a peep yet, letting the circus roll on as BTS preps their U.S. tour leg. Meanwhile, the world loses its mind over a guy sneaking a smoke like it’s the crime of the century—because nothing screams “global crisis” like policing a 31-year-old’s nicotine break between saving K-pop.
