Did BTS’ RM Shade BLACKPINK’s Rosé After She Lost At The 2026 Grammys?

K-pop fans were left disappointed after BLACKPINK’s Rosé walked away empty-handed at the 68th Grammy Awards, despite earning a historic three nominations for her song APT with Bruno Mars. The track was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year—two of the prestigious General Field “Big Four” categories—along with Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The feat marked the highest number of Grammy nominations ever received by a K-pop artist, making the loss sting even more for fans.

While Rosé’s Grammys snub dominated headlines, attention quickly shifted to BTS leader RM after he shared a seemingly harmless Instagram post that many believe carried hidden meaning. The post, uploaded on February 2, showed RM posing casually in front of a gym

mirror. What truly caught fans’ eyes, however, was his cap, which bore the message: “We Rose Everywhere.”

Almost instantly, the internet began drawing connections between the timing of the post and Rosé’s recent Grammys loss, sparking speculation about whether RM was subtly throwing shade—or simply making an unrelated fashion statement.

BTS's RM uses KiiiKiii's song '404 (New Era)' on his Instagram story. #KiiiKiii #키키 pic.twitter.com/waCnfznyS8

— KiiiKiii BASE (@kiiikiiibase) February 2, 2026

THIS HAS TO BE INTENTIONAL OMG NAMJOON YESS NAMJOON YOU GOOOO

— Bora⁷⊙⊝⊜ (@Namjooning_75) February 2, 2026

Fans Split Over ‘Shade’ vs Coincidence Narrative

Social media platforms were flooded with reactions, theories and memes as fans dissected RM’s post. Some felt the wording on the cap, paired with the Grammys timing, was too coincidental to ignore. “Is he being shady or??,” one fan tweeted, capturing the confusion and curiosity surrounding the post.

Others pointed out that the phrase “We Rose Everywhere” phonetically echoed Rosé’s name, suggesting a possible tongue-in-cheek reference. Screenshots of RM’s cap circulated rapidly, with fans debating whether the BTS leader was commenting on Rosé’s loss or the larger issue of K-pop’s repeated Grammy disappointments.

However, a significant portion of fans pushed back against the speculation. Many argued that reading malicious intent into a single Instagram post was unfair and unnecessary. They stressed that RM has never publicly shaded fellow K-pop artists and warned against creating narratives that could pit fandoms against each other. For them, the cap was simply a quirky accessory with no deeper meaning.

BTS, BLACKPINK And A Familiar Grammys Pattern

Adding fuel to the debate, fans noted an interesting Grammy parallel between BTS and Rosé. In 2026, Rosé and Bruno Mars lost Best Pop Duo/Group Performance to Defying Gravity by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Years earlier, BTS had faced a similar fate when they lost the same category to Ariana Grande’s Rain On Me with Lady Gaga.

The repeated pattern reignited discussions about K-pop’s struggle for recognition at Western award shows, with fans comparing BTS’ and Rosé’s Grammy journeys. Whether coincidence or commentary, RM’s post has undeniably reopened conversations about representation, recognition and respect for K-pop on the global stage.