Angry fans make ‘scammys’ trend after BTS Grammy loss: ‘BTS doesn’t need a Grammy’
Fans rejoiced when BTS became the first K-pop music act to receive a major Grammy nomination, getting a nod in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category for their song “Dynamite” last year.
This year’s is BTS’ second Grammy nomination, but the first for their actual music (the South Korean music act got a nomination for best recording package in 2019). Many—fans and music insiders included—saw their Grammy nomination as the culmination of the band’s stellar 2020, a year that saw them topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for their first full English-language song Dynamite and the release of their fifth Korean-language studio album “BE.”
So it isn’t surprising that BTS’ ARMY—the official name of the band’s fandom—was not too pleased when the K-pop act did not win in their category.
BTS lost to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande for their song Rain on Me.
The winner for the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category was announced ahead of the Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday, March 14 (Monday morning, Philippine time). This year’s socially-distanced awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California make use of both pre-recorded and live performances.
Right after news of the loss, BTS fans took to Twitter to express their displeasure with this particular Grammy Awards result. Some even went to say that it is the Recording Academy that needs BTS, not the other way around.
The hashtag “scammys” became a trending topic on social media, even before the start of the Grammy Awards telecast.
“Who said BTS lost grammys? It's grammys who lost BTS,” one BTS fan tweeted.
Who said BTS lost grammys? It's grammys who lost BTS.
— keci⁷⁺¹ | #LILAC (kinda ia) (@likechizu) March 14, 2021
"When #scammys is higher than the original hashtag u know somethings up BYE," another ARMY tweeted.
it’s the fact that BTS don’t need a grammy, it’s the Grammys that need BTS ??♀️ #bts
— Nina Ann Nelson (@ninaannnelson) March 14, 2021
As usual they want to increase the number of years they can use bts's validity to boost their own viewership. I don’t care about the #scammys but I hate that the boys feel like their worth is measured by their acknowledgment.
— 春 | busy again (@tokikook) March 14, 2021
In an interview with Esquire last year, BTS' RM said the group considers their Grammy nomination (and then possible win) as the “final part of the whole American journey.” BTS is also set to perform during the Grammy Awards.
During the group's (virtual) red carpet interview, the group said of their loss: “We really want to see ARMY now and I’m sure ARMY are feeling the same emotions we’re feeling, so we’ll be back with even greater music, good performances and even better music. So we’ll work hard for this next year as well and we’ll be back with great music and performances that you can look forward to.”
Banner photo from Twitter/BTS_twt