The faces of the seven who became moles in the game console are full of scars. This is the image of BTS in a card presented by an American company in commemoration of the Grammy Awards. Criticism of “hate, not satire” came immediately, and the manufacturer apologized, but the controversy has not subsided.
This is reporter Haeun Choi.
[기자]
BTS started their dream stage in front of a giant gramophone symbolizing Grammy.
I couldn’t hold the trophy in my arms, but applause poured out by lighting up Grammy’s Night as the first solo stage of a K-pop singer. An American company that makes collectible cards drew BTS like this.
The members were trapped inside the mole-catching game console, and their trembling faces were full of bruises and scars.
It also features a Grammy Trophy instead of a hammer.
The violent portrayal angered fans around the world, and criticism poured out as “racism, not satire.”
It was expressed differently from the singers on the same stage, raising the suspicion of’Asian hatred’.
It was different from Taylor Swift and Billy Eileish cards, which were taken from scenes or albums on stage.
Fans protested by posting the hashtag’Racism is not a comedy’ and sharing the words of BTS.
[RM/2018년 유엔 연설 : 당신이 누구고 어디서 왔고 피부색이 어떻든, 성 정체성이 무엇이든 여러분의 목소리를 내십시오.]
Two days after the illustration was released, the company apologized, saying, “I understand the anger. I will not sell it without the image.”
However, the accusations of “apology is not sincere,” continued because they did not explain what they did wrong or why they expressed it differently.
Forbes said, “Anytime a terrible idea,” and re-examined the last words of BTS.
[독일 ‘바이에른3’ 라디오 방송 (현지시간 2월 24일) : BTS는 코로나바이러스, 이들에 대한 백신이 만들어져야 해요.]
CNN also pointed to the credit card company’s misunderstanding, noting that crimes targeting Asian Americans increased in two months.
(Screen provided: CBS·Recording Academy, USA)
(Video graphic: Park Kyung-min)