Chilean TV show under fire for racist portrayal of BTS; fans demand action

BTS fans are demanding an apology after Chilean TV show Mi Barrio aired a racist segment mocking the members and the Korean language.

Amidst growing calls to demand action against Asian Hate, giving rise to the hashtags #StopAsianHate and #StopAAPIHate, a Chilean TV show has come under fire after airing a racist segment around BTS and Korean culture. Over the weekend, backlash and calls to apologize caught momentum, bringing to light once again the insensitive lens through which Asian acts are often viewed in Western media.

On Saturday, Chilean TV channel Mega Channel’s Mi Barrio aired a parody segment where actors portraying BTS members mocked the Korean language and perpetrated racial stereotypes around Asians. The actors also compared the members to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un; when asked to introduce themselves, the “members” introduced themselves as ‘Kim Jong-Uno’, ‘Kim Jong-Dos’, and so on.

BTS fans are now calling for action against the show, especially in light of growing anti-Asian sentiment across the world. BTS’ Chilean fan account encouraged people to register formal complaints with Chile’s National Television Council.

While the channel did post an apology, the same has been criticized for its allegedly patronizing tone. While claiming to bring a ‘grain of humor and entertainment’, the channel promised to “improve, learn, listen and stand firm in our intention.”

Such portrayal of the celebrated K-pop act — the first Korean artists in history to top major Billboard charts and be nominated for a Grammy award — is not an isolated incident. In March, Topps Company was criticized for racially insensitive portrayals of BTS on their parody trading card series Garbage Pail Kids, released in light of the Grammy awards.

Earlier this year, a German radio host was called out for comparing BTS to the COVID-19 virus on a live broadcast, saying that “hopefully there will be a vaccine for soon as well.”