“And Guess Who’s Still Standing” — Fans Criticize SM Entertainment Following Nate Walka’s Allegations of BTS Sabotage as “Experiment”

Outrage from BTS Fans Over Allegations of Early Sabotage by SM Entertainment

Online uproar has erupted among BTS fans after Nate Walka, a Grammy-winning songwriter, disclosed claims regarding alleged attempts by SM Entertainment to hinder the group’s early exposure in the United States. In a recent interview with YouTuber Frankie Biggz, Walka reflected on his collaboration with the boy band during their 2014 reality series, American Hustle Life.

Revelations from 2014: Resistance from SM Entertainment

During the interview, which aired on April 20, 2025, Walka recounted an incident from 2014 when representatives from a different K-pop agency, purportedly SM Entertainment, approached him. At that time, EXO, a group under SM, was enjoying success with a chart-topping song and was simultaneously hosting a songwriting camp. Allegedly, the team from SM sought to persuade Walka to opt for an opportunity with EXO rather than participate in BTS’ reality show.

“It was interesting because at the time there was like a writing camp, I want to say for like EXO going on. I believe EXO had like a number one record at the time, and their camp was like trying to get me to not do the show and to come and work with EXO because they were saying like, oh, you know, BTS, they’re not, you know…”he explained.

Comments Spark Fan Outrage

Walka went on to express the skepticism that surrounded BTS during those early days.

“Believe it or not, there was a lot of doubters of them. They felt like it was an experiment and that it wasn’t going to, you know, they were calling it like a filler kind of group.”

These statements have incited considerable anger among fans, who interpret them as indicative of the ongoing underestimation that BTS has faced throughout their career. User @alluretk poignantly remarked:

“And guess who’s still standing!!!”

Following the interview’s release, a surge of discontent emerged across social media platforms. Supporters highlighted the surprising irony in SM’s efforts to undermine a group that has since skyrocketed to global fame.

“SM trying to sabotage Bangtan so early on means they knew & saw something in BTS that made them feel threatened.”

Fans Reflect on BTS’s Journey and Industry Politics

BTS supporters took to various platforms to express their frustrations over the obstacles the group has encountered. Many pointed out that the industry’s dismissal of BTS as merely a “filler group”only further emphasizes their remarkable journey.

“Imagine the amount of stuff we don’t know about. They were just boys talking about dreams while huge corporations were trying to crush theirs.”

“Getting confirmation in 2025 that SM tried to ruin BTS since they were a fetus is wild.”

Fans articulated both a sense of pride in BTS’s resilience and a critical view of the entertainment industry’s gatekeeping. Many commended Nate Walka for recognizing their potential early on.

“BTS’s whole story is crazy because wdym you saved a company in the verge of bankruptcy.”

BTS: A Testament to Overcoming Adversity

Walka’s interview serves not only as a revelation but also as a timely reminder of the hurdles overcome by BTS, a group that has now firmly established itself as a cultural phenomenon. Currently, despite most members being enlisted in the military, their global impact continues to flourish.

Originally debuting under Big Hit Entertainment—then a struggling entity in the K-pop landscape—BTS’s ascension from obscurity to prominence is noteworthy. While they faced numerous challenges, recent statistical milestones, including surpassing 43 billion streams on Spotify and becoming the most streamed K-pop act in 2025, underscore their phenomenal success.

With Jin and j-hope having completed their military service, RM, SUGA, Jimin, V, and Jungkook are expected to return by June 2025. The band’s extraordinary journey and the challenges they have overcome elevate BTS as a defining force in music history.

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