Iginiit ng actress-dancer na si AC Bonifacio na hindi siya gumamit ng “connections” para makakuha ng early access sa BTS pop-up, matapos kumalat ang espekulasyon online.
Noong May 1, 2026, binuksan ng Spotify ang BTS: Swimside Manila Experience sa Glorietta Activity Center sa Makati City, kung saan maaaring maranasan ng Filipino ARMYs ang isang interactive-themed experience na tampok ang pinakabagong musika ng BTS.
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Mula May 1 hanggang May 3 lamang ginanap ang nasabing event, na eksklusibo rin sa ilang piling Spotify Premium users sa pamamagitan ng pagre-register sa ibinigay na link ng streaming platform.
Isa sa mga nakadalo sa BTS event ang aktres na si AC.
Bagay na kinuwestiyon ng ilang Pinoy ARMYs na hindi pinalad makakuha ng early access.
Read: Darren Espanto defends AC Bonifacio amid online bashing
Sa social media, kaliwa’t kanang pambabatikos ang inabot ni AC dahil sa kanyang pagdalo sa BTS: Swimside Manila Experience.
Karamihan sa mga ito ay nagsabing maaaring ginamit ng Kapamilya actress ang kanyang koneksiyon bilang celebrity.
May ilan ding tumawag na “unfair” ang pagbibigay ng Spotify ng access sa aktres, gayong may ilang devoted at loyal fans umano ng BTS na hindi nakakuha ng slot.
AC addresses allegations of using "connections" for early BTS pop-up pass
Sa pamamagitan ng pagpo-post sa X noong May 3, dinepensahan ni AC ang sarili laban sa mga kumakalat na maling impormasyon at panghuhusga mula sa ilang fans online.
Giit ni AC, wala siyang ginamit na anumang koneksiyon para makapasok sa nasabing event.
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Aniya, ang kanyang pagdalo ay bahagi ng trabaho niya, bagamat aminado siyang noong una ay hindi niya alam kung para saan ang event.
Mababasa sa kanyang post (published as is): "There are so many stories being made up here, and I've never been one to stay quiet when I know it isn't true, and people are starting to call me disrespectful names.
"I understand the frustration because of how loyal you guys are as ARMY.
"First off, I was hired for the event to work. I did not use any 'connections' to get a pass. I didn’t even know who the event was for until the night before.
"This is part of what I do, and as a breadwinner, I have responsibilities to take care of. I hope people understand that.
"But if anyone’s willing to pay my bills, I’d gladly accept."
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Pinabulaanan din ni AC ang alegasyong hindi siya tunay na fan ng K-pop supergroup, at sumikat lamang dahil sa pag-follow sa kanya ng BTS members na sina Jungkook at J-Hope sa TikTok.
Ayon kay AC, matagal na niyang sinusuportahan ang grupo kaya hindi niya matanggap ang pagtawag sa kanya na “fake fan.”
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Pahayag niya: "I’ve been ARMY since 2017, and showing up for something that celebrates BTS and the community means a lot to me.
"Everyone supports in their own way—this is one of mine. Respect goes both ways.
"I also hope we can move past the “finollow lang kasi ni J-Hope at Jungkook” and “ngayon lang naging fan” narrative, because those simply aren’t true.
"The tagging on my tiktoks are becoming an issue for no reason.
"The boys specifically have settings set on their accounts that you cannot tag them unless they follow you. I thought this was common knowledge.
"During my hooligan tiktok, only Jungkook was following me. Jhope then followed AFTER that tiktok. Which is why he is now tagged on my 2.0 tiktok. Can’t tag V because he doesn’t follow me.
"Thats it. Simple. walang “bias nya kasi” “papansin sya” “ARMY pero isa lang kilala” ??? lol pls.
"I may not have been there from the very beginning, but I made the effort to go back, learn their story, and understand everything that made BTS who they are today."
Read: Niana Guerrero on BTS Jung Kook following her on TikTok: "Tumalon po ako nang malala!"
Dagdag pa ni AC, hindi mahalaga kung kailan siya naging fan ng BTS; ang mas mahalaga raw ay kung paano niya ipinapakita ang kanyang suporta, kabilang ang pag-aaral ng kanilang mga kanta at choreography para sa kanyang dance covers.
Aniya: "Whether you’re a fan from 2014 or even 2026, we should all be celebrating that ARMY is growing.
"You weren’t there for the late nights I spent streaming, learning choreography, and even putting my own resources into creating BTS covers when I had nothing."
AC calls for positivity as BTS reunites
Sa huli, hinikayat ni AC ang pagkakaisa sa fandom at ang pagrespeto sa isa’t isa sa halip na maghilahan pababa.
Saad niya: "It’s frustrating that I have to do this just to support the first group that introduced me into KPOP.
"I don’t feel the need to prove myself as a fan.
"That’s why you dont see everything. I’ll just keep supporting OT7 the way I always have.
"Let’s not put each other down when we should be celebrating BTS and their comeback together."
Noong March 20, inilabas ng BTS ang kanilang pinakabagong album na Arirang, na naglalaman ng mga kantang "Swim," "Hooligan," "Body to Body," "2.0," "Aliens,"at "Merry Go Round."
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