D1 to 2025: Healing, Growth and Navigating Consequential Truths in Fandom
Fandoms are spaces of passion, joy, and connection—but they can also be complex emotional landscapes where loyalty and individuality intersect. As an ARMY, I have always found strength in BTS’s messages of love, unity, and resilience. Yet, a personal experience with a former friend—who chose to multistan during a pivotal time for BTS—challenged my understanding of loyalty, solidarity, and forgiveness.
The pain of losing a friend over a choice I struggled to understand left me feeling betrayed and questioning the depth of our bond. This experience happened during BTS’s military service, a sensitive time when unity felt more important than ever. The lack of acknowledgment or apology from this friend made it even harder to process the situation.
Over time, I realized that this experience wasn’t just about multistaning; it was about the weight we assign to relationships and shared values in fandom.
Multistaning, or being a fan of multiple artists, is a natural and common way to explore music. On one hand, it aligns with BTS’s own values of celebrating diversity and individuality. On the other hand, fandoms like ARMY thrive on collective efforts, whether it’s streaming, voting, or defending BTS against industry challenges.
This dichotomy reveals a key truth: fandom loyalty is deeply personal but often viewed through the lens of community expectations. Balancing personal freedom with collective purpose can be challenging, especially in a passionate and tightly-knit fandom like ARMY.
What I’ve learned is that the pain of betrayal often stems from unspoken expectations. In my case, I expected loyalty not just to BTS but also to the shared connection that fandom fosters. When that connection was broken, it forced me to confront another truth: grief is a natural part of losing something you deeply value.
Yet, BTS’s ethos reminds us to choose love and kindness, even in difficult moments. As I reflected on this experience, I began to understand that while I cannot control others’ choices, I can control how I respond.
I choose to honor my emotions while allowing myself to heal. I recognize that multistaning is not inherently wrong—it is simply a different way of experiencing music and fandom. However, I also acknowledge that actions have consequences, and fandom loyalty is built on mutual respect and understanding.
By prioritizing forgiveness and focusing on the values that BTS instills in us—love, inclusivity, and respect—I am finding the strength to move forward. The truth is, fandom is as much about personal growth as it is about collective joy.
To fellow ARMY and fans everywhere, I encourage you to reflect on your own truths in fandom. Whether you are a multistan or a single-group stan, the most important thing is to stay true to the values that resonate with you. Let us support one another with kindness, even when our paths diverge, and remember that healing begins when we choose to move forward with love.
A healthy, peaceful and joyful 2025 to every fan of whatever kind, shape or size!
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