They used to be castmates.
Koreaboo
BTS leader RM is yet again at the center of a heated social media discourse after an old video of him resurfaced on social media recently.
The clip in question is from the tvN show, Problematic Men, which used to regularly feature RM as a cast member alongside Jun Hyun Moo, Kim Ji Seok, Lee Jang Won, Ha Seok Jin, Joo Woo Jae, and DDotty.
In the clip, singer Lee Jang Won was giving suggestions on how to improve one’s English-speaking skills, when RM responded with a playful, “What’s up bro?” Lee unexpectedly replied saying, “Play your own race.”
When that one interviewer told namjoon to play his own race after he started putting on a black accent 😭😭 https://t.co/KRzLPQ9ESg pic.twitter.com/IiZ0SMYbXg
— ★ (@_lyneho) September 23, 2026
Though the clip is from 2015, it has resurfaced on social media, drawing massive ridicule and criticism from some netizens for apparently trying to emulate a Black American accent. Many also praised Lee for “clocking” RM’s supposedly racist behavior.
when this interviewer clocked namjoon’s racist ass pic.twitter.com/TdqP49NvDK https://t.co/2mv7lLOlIE
— saj ꨄ︎ (@jentleggyu) October 16, 2026
lee jang won is so funny like not even most kpop stans were that woke back in the early 2010s lmao https://t.co/gxrnthAWin
— ven 벤 (@vengeancetrlgy) October 18, 2026
the more i think about the less it makes sense where does the blaccent come from didn’t namjoon learn english from friends a show that notoriously doesn’t have black people https://t.co/YTnrSRtpqB
— 🍎🐺 // ⁸ mar- of #niggayuritwt 𝜗ৎ (@palep1nk) October 17, 2026
I've been an Army since way before this era. How on earth did I never see this clip before? This is embarrassing. It made me cringe for him. https://t.co/dwD9oSGk2a
— S♡S (@LMmoonlight15) October 18, 2026
However, many fans hit back with the argument that interpreting the phrase “What’s up bro” as a racist caricature itself is a racist presumption.
I still can't find a non-racist explanation that explains why saying "what's up bro?" is racist https://t.co/qAaL6IcGKN
— . (@AryenisHere) October 18, 2026
Someone explain to me, an old Korean lady, why 15k people liked a tweet claiming Namjoon saying "What's up, bro" is racist?
Are Koreans not allowed to say "What's up, bro?"
I say this all the time. What's wrong with it? https://t.co/SmyxySvdSc
— Droll Model (@bayesiandroll) October 17, 2026
This is a very specific type of aggression that you'll only experience between english speakers from colonized countries in Asia I think 😭 Because what's racist about 'What's up bro?' especially if you grew up watching American media your whole life?? https://t.co/jhMEOjmxGG
— mmmusic #ArtHasNoAliens (@mminimonimusic) October 18, 2026
However, many also pointed out the show itself used a caption in this very clip, labeling him “Black feel maknae.” That, combined with Lee Jang Won’s retort, implied that they too, interpreted RM’s way of speaking as an emulation of the Black American accent.
LMAO EVEN THE SUBS SAYING “black feel maknae”
— Ray (@rayskzed) October 16, 2026
GOOD FUCKING BYE https://t.co/7V3V0J8h2X pic.twitter.com/huQfxnidgE
— mael🧸✨ (@maelsitou_) October 17, 2026
Meanwhile, RM recently stirred up heated reactions on social media after addressing allegations of xenophobia against him.
BTS’s RM Addresses Xenophobia Allegations, Sparks Further Criticism
