25 September,2026 04:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The Woody Show host and BTS Jungkook. Pics via Instagram
Woody, host of The Woody Show, has apologised to BTS member Jungkook and the group's ARMY fandom after facing backlash over comments he made while on air. The radio personality acknowledged that he mispronounced Jungkook's name and admitted that he became defensive while responding to criticism from the K-pop group's fans.
The controversy began as BTS ARMY members were demanding answers from the iHeartRadio Music Festival over what they alleged was a shortened BTS performance. During the discussion, Woody appeared to mock Jungkook's name, referring to him as "Jang Jook" and later "Juk something" and "Jin Cook".
The remarks quickly drew criticism on social media, with some users accusing the host of deliberately mispronouncing the singer's name and describing the comments as racist. The discussion then escalated when Woody turned his attention to the BTS fandom. "What social media account should we tell the BTS ARMY to go to to suck it?" he said while discussing the backlash.
When co-host Sebastian Davis made further provocative comments, Woody responded, "Yes, the BTS ARMY losers, losers, losers. There you go. And you know what I'm basing that on? I'm basing that on everything that I read online." The comments prompted further criticism from BTS fans, particularly over the way Jungkook's name was handled.
A day later, Woody addressed the controversy in an apology video, accepting responsibility for his remarks. "I got Jungkook's name wrong. I should have taken a couple of seconds to make sure I knew how to pronounce his name," he said. "And so I'm sincerely apologising to Jungkook for that."
Woody also apologised to ARMY for his comments, admitting that he allowed the situation to get the better of him. "No offence intended, but to the BTS ARMY, I did get defensive. I said some things I shouldn't have. And again, that's on me," he said. "I did get caught up in the moment. And so for that I apologise." In his video, the host also acknowledged BTS global standing, describing the South Korean septet as "one of the biggest groups in the world."
The controversy comes as BTS fans continue to discuss the group's appearance at the iHeartRadio Music Festival and seek clarification over the length of their performance. The reaction to Woody's remarks added another layer to the ongoing conversation, particularly among fans who felt his comments crossed a line while addressing their criticism.
For now, iHeartRadio has not publicly responded to the controversy or Woody's comments. BTS is currently on their Arirang World Tour, which runs through 2026 and 2027.
