Simon Cowell Says One Direction Was Last ‘Megastar Boyband’, BTS Fans Disagree

TV personality and entrepreneur Simon Cowell, known for his role on The X Factor, has made some comments about boy bands that have not been well-received by everyone. In a statement revealed by Rolling Stone, Simon Cowell mentioned, “Every generation deserves a megastar boyband and I don’t think there has been one to have the success of One Direction in over 14 years. The industry tends to focus on solo artists — so it usually takes someone from outside to put a group together.”

Cowell also announced his plan to hold open auditions across the UK for a potential boy band. He also acknowledged the risks involved, saying, “There’s always a high degree of risk, and I genuinely have no idea what’s going to happen! We might uncover an incredible group; we might not get there. What if no one shows up to auditions? That could be awkward. There is no guaranteed path to success — anything can happen, but that’s what’s exciting for me, and that’s why I’m doing this,” as reported by Koreaboo.

However, Cowell’s comments about the absence of a megastar boyband at present have sparked criticism, especially from fans of BTS.

BTS has achieved global success, even surpassing One Direction in many cases. They have outsold One Direction worldwide and are the most streamed band on Spotify. BTS have broken numerous records, including having the most viewers for a music video premiere on YouTube. In terms of US chart performance, BTS has six number-one hits, while One Direction has none. Nonetheless, on the UK charts, One Direction has had more hits, informs Koreaboo.

People have reportedly pointed out that Cowell’s perspective is “Western-centric” and tends to overlook the success of K-pop groups. Apart from BTS, other boy bands such as Tomorrow X Together, Stray Kids, and Seventeen have also found global success.