Fans were angry at the Grammys/Recording Academy for creating the new Asian pop category, but some of that anger is now directed at K-pop acts that reportedly submitted for the category. The academy has not officially disclosed which acts entered the category, though some have been named in local media outlets. Criticism has mounted in some online fan communities, with people questioning whether the acts should compete in a category that many see as discriminatory and some even asking whether they really want to win a "racist award." Others have countered that pursuing a Grammy nomination is a practical choice for artists. The debate traces back to June, when the academy announced that Best Asian Pop Music Performance, one of five new categories, will debut at the 69th Grammy Awards in February 2027. The award covers recordings that make meaningful use of one or more Asian languages, but many in the Korean music industry questioned whether it would wall K-pop off into a separate box instead of recognizing it in the main categories. Boy band BTS brought the debate to a head on July 29, anno