German Radio Station Apologises for Racist Comments, Comparing BTS to COVID-19
German radio station apologizes for racist comments, comparing K-pop group BTS to COVID-19.
It occurred during a radio broadcast on Bavarian station on Wednesday, when Bayern 3, Matthias Matuschik compared the K-pop group to coronavirus and called them “some crappy virus” for which he hoped there would be a vaccine soon.
Furthermore, during the show, Matuschik also commented about BTS’s recent cover of Coldplay’s Fix You and called it blasphemy. The host went on to compare the group to Covid-19.
Matthias Matuschik in a statement later said that he did not intend to “racially insult,” adding that making a connection between the band and Covid was “completely wrong”.
Amid social media uproar, the radio station issued a statement on Thursday saying: “It is the character of this show and also of the presenter to express his opinion clearly, openly and unvarnished.”
It added that he “overshot the mark in his choice of words” and he did not intend to hurt the feelings of the BTS fans.
After the radio show, the racists’ comments went viral on social media. While BTS fans known as ARMY came out in support of the boyband and trended the hashtags #Bayern3Apologize, #Bayern3Racist #RassismusBeiBayern3, and #ApologizeToBTS on Twitter.
"WE'LL PROTECT YOU AND YOU"LL PROTECT US WHATEVER MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE "
— A (@tetesopespot) February 27, 2021
We love you, Bangtan💜💜💜
Thank you to these three who spoke against the raicism that BTS and Asians are now experiencing.
Everything will be okay @BTS_twt #apologizetobts #Bayern3Apologize pic.twitter.com/2RvPZetYK3
There’s a fine line between social commentary and sugar coated racism and we all know which side this falls on. Uhmm how do people even tolerate this blatant stupidity? What a sad and pathetic excuse for entertainment journalism #Bayern3Racist #apologizetobts pic.twitter.com/ipo5gmQrxm
— ggukie⁷ (@shookjinkook_) February 26, 2021
Please read this smart and important essay by @GoAwayWithJae https://t.co/caVco0oAka pic.twitter.com/kV4Hd5r1eY
— Min Jin Lee (@minjinlee11) February 26, 2021
ARMY, we encourage you to bring awareness to this situation. A German radio station making racist and xenophobic remarks to the boys. Please don't ignore this situation and help us by replying #Bayern3Racist and #RassismusBeiBayern3 to get this trending higher.
— Vote With ARMY⁷ (@VoteWithARMY) February 25, 2021
Racism is not an opinion.
— BTS Graphs ⁷ (@BTS_graphs) February 26, 2021
We demand @bayern3 to release a proper apology and condemn anti-Asian racism on air.
The Asian community is suffering from a rise in hate crimes due to the pandemic. Your words have real life consequences.#RacismIsNotAnOpinion #Bayern3Racist
"I feel that all people deserve respect for the simple fact of existing"
— BORAHAE BD ARMY⁷ 🇧🇩⟭⟬ (@BorahaeBD_ARMY) February 26, 2021
-Kim Namjoon
Racism is not an opinion
Racism can never be someone's opinion
We strongly stand against racism.#Bayern3Racist #Bayern3Apologize #apologizetobts pic.twitter.com/dvEFVNmFl6