After seeing an Australian show, The Project, putting inappropriate background music to the K-pop group’s clip in their promotional video. BTS ARMY trended #StopAsianHate and #ApologizeToTaehyung. ARMYs are criticising the TV show. For its “xenophobia” and for using the video to “perpetuate hate against the Asian population”. In the clip, The Project added coughing background music as V was enjoying a Grammy performance. Designers even altered germ emojis to make it appear as if V was coughing and spreading the infection. Fans slammed the decision, accusing the firm of using the Asian population to make a COVID joke, especially because Asians are still being humiliated over the pandemic.
An Australian TV show has been criticized for editing a clip of BTS’s V coughing
A clip of BTS’ V swaying to the music with coughing noises in the background was spliced into a famous Australian show, The Project, on April 4. They added a voice-over before the clip explaining the group’s recovery from COVID. The clip was deemed offensive and racist toward the group by internet users. The six-minute movie gave a basic overview of the 64th Grammy Awards’ most glamorous moments. Fans and non-fans alike, however, were disappointed by the video. The voice-over said before showing V coughing: “K-Pop superstar BTS stormed the stage, disregarding their recent feud with COVID-19.” To add insult to injury, the authors placed germ emojis on V’s mouth. #StopAsianHate quickly became a trending topic on social media as viewers pointed out that the TV show featured an Asian group to imply that they were spreading the illness.
On February 15, BTS’ V tested positive for COVID but recovered completely on February 22. After being deemed totally cured, Jungkook and J-Hope were recently freed from quarantine. Many people stated that the TV show was “offensive” and that it was “perpetuating hate” toward Asians in general, not just the K-pop septet. Meanwhile, The Project has subsequently removed the tape following widespread criticism. Many people have sought an official apology from the show, but they have yet to respond.