BTS fans enraged over racist comments

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

Tue, October 3, 2023 | 15:27

K-pop

BTS fans enraged over racist comments

Posted : 2017-05-26 14:51

Updated : 2017-05-27 19:12

K-pop boy band BTS with the Billboard Music Awards ‘Top Social Artist' trophy at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada. / Yonhap

By Lee Han-soo

Fans of BTS, a K-pop boy band also known as The Bangtan Boys, and netizens are outraged about online racist comments about the group winning a Billboard Music Award.

"I don't even know who those Asians were," a netizen said. "I don't want to know. I'm baffled. I didn't understand what they said. Award shows are so trashy now."

Her quote referred to the acceptance speech delivered in English after the band won the Top Social Artist category.

Another netizen quipped, "Who are these Asians with the bowl cut?"

The comments were met with a wave of anger from the band's fans, with some SNS users closing their accounts.

One fan said, "The ignorance is astounding. They could have said something less derogatory, like ‘Who are BTS?'"

Another added, "You became famous for being close-minded and racist. Congrats."

BTS is the first K-pop group to win the award, beating Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes in the fan-voted category.

The victory owed much to the band's fan community called the Adorable Representative M.C for Youth, also known as A.R.M.Y.