BTS after finishing their concert in Tokyo, Japan on Nov. 13 (Twitter) The agency of K-pop superstars BTS has apologized over past incidents where two members were seen wearing a cap with a Nazi symbol and a t-shirt with a photo of atomic bombing of Japan. Big Hit Entertainment finally broke its silence over the issues, which have escalated in the past week including being called out by the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish organization that researches on the Holocaust and hate. In the statement, Big Hit Entertainment took responsibility for the incidents and cleared BTS of any wrongdoing. “Nevertheless, Big Hit bears all responsibilities for not providing the necessary and careful support to our artist that may have prevented these issues, and we would like to make clear that our artists, especially due to their extensive schedules and the complexities of on-site conditions, are in no way responsible for any of the issues outlined above,” it said. The controversy started when Japanese broadcast station TV Asahi announced last week that BTS’ appearance on its “Music Station” show was cancelled over a t-shirt worn last year by BTS member Jimin. The t-shirt had the text “Patriotism Our History Liberation Korea” and two photos including the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in Japan on Aug. 9, 1945. After which, past photos of BTS circulated online including a 2014 photo of RM (previously known as Rap Monster) for a magazine in which he was wearing a cap with a Nazi symbol, and video and photos of BTS performing as guests at a September 2017 anniversary concert of veteran Korean singer Seo Taiji in which they were waving flags. “Wearing a T-shirt in Japan mocking the victims of the Nagasaki A-bomb, is just the latest incident of this band mocking the past,” according to Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Rabbi Abraham Cooper, adding that “flags appearing on stage at their concert were eerily similar to the Nazi Swastika. It goes without saying that this group, which was invited to speak at the UN, owes the people of Japan and the victims of the Nazism an apology.” In its explanation, Big Hit said that “in all activities involving BTS and any other artists associated with our company, Big Hit does not condone any activities of war or the use of atomic weapons, is adamantly against them, had no intention of causing distress or pain to anyone affected by the dropping of atomic weapons, and we will continue to adhere to these principles.” It added: “In all activities involving BTS and any other artists associated with our company, Big Hit does not support any organizations or groups oriented towards political extremism and totalitarian beliefs including Nazism, is against all such entities and activities, had no intention of causing distress or pain to anyone affected by historical events and incidents by being inadvertently associated with such organizations or groups, and we will continue to adhere to these principles.” About Jimin’s t-shirt, Big Hit said that “as previously explained the incident was in no way intentional, and although it has been verified that the outfit had not been designed originally to injure or make light of those affected by the use of atomic weapons, we would like to offer our sincere apologies not only for failing to take the precautions that could have prevented the wearing of such clothing by our artist that inadvertently inflicted pain on anyone affected by the use of atomic weapons, but to anyone who may have experienced distress and discomfort by witnessing the association of our artists with imagery related to atomic bombings.” The agency said that about RM’s cap “displaying a logo reminiscent of Nazi symbolism, again as previously explained the incident was in no way intentional, and although all apparel and accessories used during the photoshoot had been provided by the publication conducting the shoot, we would like to offer our sincere apologies for inadvertently inflicting pain and distress to anyone affected by totalitarian regimes in the past by failing to strictly review the clothing and accessories that our members were made to wear, as well as to anyone who may have experienced distress and discomfort by witnessing an association of our artists with imagery reminiscent of political extremism.” But the agency denied that flags used during BTS’ performance at Seo Taiji’s concert were Nazi flags. “The flags and images were creative elements completely unrelated to national socialism, and the core message of the performance itself was criticism against restrictively uniform and authoritarian educational systems. The performance is in no way associated with National Socialism as some observers have alleged, and in fact it should be noted that the performance includes creative elements that are designed to direct criticism against these very elements of totalitarianism,” the agency clarified. It said that to make sure that the controversies were properly addressed, the agency “has contacted associations in Japan and Korea representing those affected by the atomic bombings to provide explanations and apologies to anyone who may have been distressed or in any way affected.” “Big Hit has delivered a letter to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an organization that has brought some of these issues to attention, in order to offer explanations and apologies to anyone who may have been distressed or in any way affected,” it added. Big Hit promised that “we will carefully examine and review not only these issues but all activities involving Big Hit and our artists based on a firm understanding of diverse social, historical and cultural considerations to ensure that we never cause any injury, pain or distress to anyone.” “We would like to again offer our sincerest apologies to anyone who has suffered pain, distress and discomfort due to our shortcomings and oversight in ensuring that these matters receive our most careful attention,” it said. In a statement, the Simon Wiesenthal Center said it has welcomed the apology from Big Hit Entertainment over the incidents. “The outrageous incidents reveal a basic lack of knowledge of history’s darkest chapters that endangers the future of younger generations. We are reaching out to BTS and their management to urge that they harness their international fame to celebrate the good and not serve the forces of evil,” said Cooper.