BTS ARMY Has Mobilized to Denounce Anti-Asian Racism After a Comedy Show Mocked the Band

Just weeks after the worldwide stars of BTS released a powerful statement about the anti-Asian racism they've faced and a call to action for respect for all, a Chilean television show aired a racist parody sketch about the band. The Mi Barrio sketch aired on Saturday on the Mega Channel in Chile. By Sunday evening, members of the vast fan base ARMY had mobilized to speak out against the anti-Asian sentiment in the sketch and the wider implications about the racism the members of BTS have faced throughout their careers. The hashtag #RacismIsNotComedy began trending on Sunday night and became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter in the United States. Today, fans continue to come together to call out and condemn racism.

In the Mi Barrio sketch, actors portrayed the men of BTS and made jokes mocking the Korean language and associating the men of BTS with the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un. For example: when asked to introduce themselves in the sketch, the actors said, “Kim Jong-Uno,” “Kim Jong-Dos,” “Kim Jong-Tres,” “Kim Jong-Cuatro” and “Juan Carlos." One thread on Twitter explained how to file a formal complaint with Mi Barrio's television network as one way to take action and spread a larger message: racist jokes are not funny, and they won't be tolerated—whether the targets of the jokes are the men of BTS, or anyone else. Mi Barrio released a short statement on their Instagram which seemed to respond to the criticism, but did not explicitly address the racism and xenophobia at the heart of their BTS parody sketch. Part of the statement reads: “We will continue to improve, learn, listen and strengthen our intention: to bring entertainment to families.”

BTS has not spoken officially about the Mi Barrio sketch, but their recent statement following the rise of anti-Asian violence in the United States (and throughout the world) speaks volumes about their perspective on racism and anti-Asian racism in particular. Their statement said, in part: "We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason. Our own experiences are inconsequential compared to the events that have occurred over the past few weeks. But these experiences were enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem."

BTS concluded their statement with a call to action for their many fans to unite with them against anti-Asian violence and racism, and all forms of racism. "We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together," they wrote. With its mobilization over the last few days, ARMY is clearly following the precedent set by the members of BTS. Whether it's a racist comedy performance like the Mi Barrio sketch or any other racist act, BTS's global fan base continues to stand together with the uniting mission of fighting for respect for everyone. Here are some resources and actions you can take to join BTS in the movement to combat racism and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

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