BTS, the K-pop band that has gained global popularity — and continued to run circles on the American awards circuit (the American Music Awards last week; the Grammys this week) — became an unlikely topic of conversation during jury selection for the federal sex crime trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs on Monday, prompting confusion and wild speculation among fans on the internet.

The mention occurred during the first day of jury selection at the Southern District of New York courthouse, where the hip-hop mogul faces five federal charges, including conspiracy to commit extortion, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution-related activity.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Due to federal court restrictions prohibiting photography and video recording, details from the proceedings have emerged primarily through attendees' social media accounts.

One of the first to report the BTS reference was journalist and content creator Stephanie Soo, who posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the group's name came up in response to a juror being questioned about their music preferences.

"Someone said they went to a BTS concert," Soo wrote in her post, which has since garnered thousands of interactions.

She clarified in a follow-up that the BTS mention occurred organically during voir dire — the process in which attorneys screen prospective jurors to identify potential biases.

Legal experts confirmed the group's name had no direct relevance to the case itself.

Rather, it surfaced as part of routine questioning designed to assess jurors' cultural and entertainment interests, particularly given Combs' long-standing influence in the music industry.

"There's nothing unusual about jurors being asked about their personal experiences, especially in a high-profile trial like this," said Rebecca Lin, a criminal law professor at Fordham University. "Mentioning BTS in this context is simply incidental — not material to the facts of the case."

Neither the prosecution nor the defense invoked BTS in their arguments or motions.

The seven-member South Korean group, currently on hiatus as members fulfill mandatory military service, has no connection to the charges or the investigation.

Jury selection is ongoing, with the pool narrowed to 43 individuals as of Tuesday.

Twelve jurors — eight men and four women — will be selected to serve, along with alternates.

Combs' legal team has already raised concerns about potential racial bias among the jury pool, but Judge Arun Subramanian rejected the motion, affirming that the selection process is "neutral and non-discriminatory."

If convicted on all charges, Combs could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The brief discussion of BTS has still sparked so much reaction on social media, mainly confusion and concern.

Some hashtags that trended, such as #BTSinCourt and #WhyBTS, were used to explain that the group had nothing to do with the case.

And as the trial continues, legal observers stress the significance of keeping attention on the charges at stake, and not getting distracted by unrelated viral moments.