BTS member Jimin's unwashed hanbok costume did not go under the hammer as originally planned on April 22 because designer, Kim Rieul, pulled out of the auction and released a full explanation for his decision.
In a statement, Rieul said that he realized that the auction "reflect a more commercialized aspect" and he did not want this to tarnish Jimin's "world-class status" as a member of BTS. The designer also admitted that he was burdened by the original plan hence he decided to cancel everything with My Art Auction.
The move, however, comes as Rieul and My Art Auction received many criticisms, especially from the fans of BTS. When news of the auction first came out, it was met with angry BTS ARMY members who cried foul over the idea that an unwashed BTS member's outfit should be sold to the public.
Jimin wore this hanbok during the guest stint of BTS on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon in early 2020. According to reports, the hanbok was left unwashed or dry cleaned and it still has Jimin's sweat and body odor. Fans said that the idea to peddle the costume as "unwashed" sounded disgusting and disrespectful to Jimin, who seemed to be treated like a doll.
According to reports, Big Hit Music, the label of BTS, tried to purchase the hanbok from the designer but Rieul apparently declined the offer. Instead, he loaned the costumes to the group with the idea that he would put them on the auction block.
Worse, fans think that this had no expressed consent from BTS, especially if the auction uses the body scent as the selling point. While there had been BTS used items going off on the auction block in the past, these were sanctioned and organized by HYBE, the band's talent agency.
The furor has led to fans harassing and slandering Rieul on social media so the designer ultimately called the whole thing off.
Meanwhile, true to the world-class status of Jimin and BTS, a joke pertaining to the band was cut out from Disney+ and Marvel's The Falcon And The Winter Soldier series. Actor Danny Ramirez said he and Anthony Mackie were supposed to make reference to BTS and also do a little BTS dance but the scene wasn't aired in the final cut.
Ramirez said he and Mackie ad-libbed the whole thing, which "would have been cool" if the fans got to see it. They thought it was also a poignant moment showing the dynamic and closeness between Sam (Mackie) and Joaquin (Ramirez).
