Louis Tomlinson Admits How He Really Feels About BTS Beating One Direction's Records

Louis Tomlinson has admitted he’s had mixed feelings watching BTS’ meteoric rise to global fame – particularly seeing the boyband eclipse the success of his own group One Direction.

The K-pop group has only gone from strength to strength in the last decade, with the group currently gearing up for the release of their 10th album, which will be their first after a three-year hiatus implemented so each member of the seven-piece band could complete their military service.

Speaking to Billboard as part of a recent cover interview, Louis claimed that he hasn’t paid “loads of attention” to the boyband universe since he and his 1D bandmates went their separate ways a decade ago, but has kept one eye on BTS’ ascent.

“There was a time when BTS was on the way up, and I felt like, every time I logged into Twitter, they’d just taken one of our records for something – some fastest selling thing, and they’d take it away!” he claimed.

Louis added: “It was just a bit of a shame! But I don’t begrudge them that – that’s the nature of the music industry, it keeps moving.”

Here in the UK, BTS has enjoyed most of their chart success thanks to 2020s hits like Butter, Dynamite and the Coldplay collaboration My Universe.

They also topped the UK albums chart with their 2020 release Map Of The Soul, followed by a number two later that year with Be.

One Direction embarked on their own hiatus in 2016, with each member achieving varying levels of solo success since the group’s run came to an end.

Back in 2022, Louis spoke candidly about being compared to his former bandmates, particularly Grammy winner Harry Styles.

“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me at first,” Louis said of Harry’s solo success. “Only ’cos I didn’t know where to place myself, and really my only point of reference was other members of the band.

“But it’s not surprising to me that Harry’s the most commercially successful because he really fits the mold of a modern star. He’s not just doing music, he’s got film as well, and the [stadium] tour he’s done is unbelievable.”

In 2024, the members of One Direction came together, alongside their former mentor Simon Cowell, for the funeral of their bandmate Liam Payne, who had died weeks earlier at the age of 31.