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A chance encounter between the K-pop group BTS, which is coming off a recent triple win at the American Music Awards, and three-time Grammy-winning singer Lizzo has been making the internet buzz.

At the 2021 AMAs ceremony held on Sunday evening at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, BTS won in three categories, becoming the first Asian act to win Artist of the Year — the top honor at the event.

Ahead of the ceremony, BTS members J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook took in an LA performance on Nov. 19 by the world-famous musician and actor Harry Styles.

They ended up having a surprise encounter at the venue, where the popular US singer Lizzo was also in attendance. The meeting between BTS and Lizzo was soon burning up the Google search and trending topics on social media.

Since her debut in 2013, the US musician Lizzo has drawn notice for her unique sound and explosive vocal abilities. She enjoyed a big night at the Grammy Awards last year, where she won in three categories.

The various similarities between Lizzo and BTS made their chance encounter seem almost as if it were fate.

Lizzo has drawn fervent support from fans for her lyrics and performances and their message of loving yourself as you are, no matter your size.

When critics have attacked her for being overweight, she has fired back that she is proud of her body. In an interview with The Cut in 2019, she said, "Even when body positivity is over, it’s not like I’m going to be a thin white woman. I’m going to be black and fat."

Her positive attitude toward life is expressed in the opening lyrics to her song “Juice,” where she sings, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall / Don’t say it ’cause I know I’m cute.”

It’s a message that echoes the lyrics of songs by BTS, which has released multiple albums under the title “Love Yourself.”

In September 2018, BTS became the first Korean act to deliver a speech before a regular meeting of the UN General Assembly, where its members shared a message with the world for the sake of younger generations. The theme of their speech was a message of “loving ourselves.”

The lead speaker was group leader RM, who said, “No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin color, your gender identity, just speak yourself. Find your name and find your voice by speaking yourself.”

BTS and Lizzo also share similarities in that they have spoken out against racial discrimination.

In June of last year, BTS shared a message of support and solidarity for the anti-racism movement spreading in the US at the time.

In a Twitter message published in both Korean and English, the members wrote, “We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together.”

The same message included the hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter,” signaling the group’s support for the movement.

This post came at a time when demonstrations were taking place throughout the US in protest of a white Minneapolis police officer using excessive force against an unarmed, non-resisting Black man named George Floyd, killing him.

Lizzo has also voiced her solidarity with the Black community and opposition to racism on social media. After Floyd’s death last year, she joined other world-famous music stars such as Beyonce, Cardi B, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift in speaking out against racism on social media.

Remarking on her encounter with BTS in a social media post, Lizzo said that it was one of the greatest experiences in her life, adding that she had been jumping around and singing along with the BTS members throughout the concert.

By Jung Hyuk-june, staff reporter

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