On April 2, 2025, BTS member j-hope engaged directly with fans through a live broadcast on the South Korean platform Weverse, sparking excitement within the fandom. During the session, he humorously savored a banana, prompting a playful comment from a viewer, “Jungkook’s banana?”j-hope responded with a laugh, exclaiming, “You eat them all,”and reminiscing, “Ah, in those days.”
This lighthearted moment harkened back to a cherished memory from BTS’ pre-debut days when Jungkook received a fruit basket as a gift from a devoted fan. The members, captivated by the bounty, began munching on the fruit it contained. Notably, j-hope decided to enjoy a banana from this special assortment, symbolizing the fondness and value they placed on gifts during their earlier years in the industry.
As Jungkook noticed the dwindling supply from his fruit basket, he humorously called on the other members to halt their snacking. In a moment of playful defiance, j-hope tossed his banana onto the floor. This amusing event has frequently been revisited and discussed among the BTS members.
The Weverse live session clip quickly caught fire across social media, delighting the fandom with j-hope’s nostalgic reference to the infamous banana incident. Fans expressed their joy at the lighthearted nature of the story.
“my hopekook crumbs,”an X user tweeted
Fans found it particularly amusing that the j-hope and Jungkook banana saga remains so “unserious,”showcasing the duo’s fun dynamics.
“Even the world know their banana story now,”a fan reacted.
“Their fights are so unserious this why bangtan friendship are tight. It’s the same fight hopekook banana fight, vmin dumpling fight(biggest fight in their opinion) which we got like 2 self written songs from them as love comes out stronger before vmin, jikook fight on rainy day,”a fan shared.
“it’s even funnier knowing that it’s in the BTS Island game.”- a fan commented.
Many users noted that j-hope might be missing his bandmates, especially since he keeps referencing past inside jokes.
“i feel like he misses his members so much he has been looking at old compilations of them because he keeps talking about old inside jokes of armies like the jhooooope meme, lachimolala, and now this,”a user reacted.
“Haha, classic Hobi! Those banana memories never get old,”a user mentioned.
“I guess they didn’t quarrel too much because they remember the banana and the mandu thing way too much,”a user commented.
BTS’ j-hope Unveils His Latest Digital Single, “Mona Lisa”
On March 21, 2025, j-hope debuted his digital single titled “Mona Lisa”through BigHit Music. This track, blending hip-hop and R&B influences, draws a playful comparison to the iconic painting, reflecting beauty that transcends mere aesthetics.
According to a statement from BigHit Music shared on Weverse, j-hope aimed to convey a deeper message:
“MONA LISA is a hip-hop and R&B track that celebrates a captivating person by playfully comparing them to the iconic masterpiece ‘Mona Lisa,’ which has charmed the world for centuries. Through this song, j-hope conveys that true allure lies not in one’s external beauty but in the unique qualities that make the person special.”
Further elaboration in the press release highlighted the single as a heartfelt gift to fans, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support:
“This digital single is a heartfelt surprise gift from j-hope to his fans in appreciation of their unwavering love and support. As this release is j-hope’s way of expressing his gratitude, we kindly ask for your enthusiastic support and interest in j-hope’s future endeavors.”
In addition to “Mona Lisa,”j-hope collaborated with American artist Miguel on the track “Sweet Dreams,”released on February 7, 2025. His discography boasts several successful albums such as “Jack in the Box,””Hope on the Street Vol.1,”and “Hope World.”
On a philanthropic note, j-hope made a generous donation of 100 million Korean won to families affected by the Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash in December 2024, along with subsequent contributions to the Seoul Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital.
Recently, he donated another 100 million Korean won to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to assist in wildfire relief efforts following devastating incidents in regions like Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam.