▲ BTS became the first Korean pop singer to be nominated for’Best Pop Duo/Group Performance’ at the 63rd Grammy Awards held on the 15th (Korean time). On this day, he also performed a solo performance and set a record as a Korean pop singer who performed his first solo stage on the Grammy stage. Ⓒ Big Hit Entertainment
Topps, a famous American card maker, is getting hit with a negative portrayal of BTS. As controversy such as racial discrimination grew, he expressed his intentions to apologize, but more criticism is pouring out on the irrelevant content.
The card in question is the set of ‘2021 Topps Garbage Pail Kids: The Shammy Awards’, which Tops unveiled in commemoration of the 63rd Grammy Awards held on the 15th. Among the illustrations depicting six Grammy cast members, including Taylor Swift, Megan the Stallion, and Billy Eilish, the BTS illustration became a problem.
The bulletproof boy band in the card was depicted as a mole in a mole catching game console. The seven members are terrified with bruises in their eyes and scars on their faces after being beaten by a Grammy trophy modeled after a gramophone. The description of BTS is also sarcastic with’Bopping KPOP’ and’Bruiser BTS’.
▲ A racist illustrator of BTS in the set of ‘2021 Topps Garbage Pail Kids: The Shammy Awards’ released by American card maker Topps in celebration of the 63rd Grammy Awards. It caused great controversy. Ⓒ Topps
As soon as Tops’ card illustration was released, voices criticizing the racist portrayal of BTS, centered on SNS, increased. The composition of striking the members with the Grammy Trophy is a sarcastic content for the failure to win the best pop duo/group performance nominated at the Grammy Awards, and the phrase “Strike K-Pop” means disparaging not only BTS but also the entire K-Pop.
It was also pointed out that there is a big difference compared to the descriptions of other artists. Taylor Swift is the stage concept unfolded at this year’s Grammy Awards, and Megan the Stallion is depicted riding a horse and running along the coast with a trophy. It’s ridiculous, but not violent.
The recent surge in Asian hate crimes in the United States has made the voice of ‘Stop hating Asia (#STOPASIANHATE)’ strong, making Tops’ illustration more controversial. The day after Tops unveiled the card, six Asian women were shot and killed at a massage shop in Atlanta, raising voices of anger.
▲ The ‘2021 Topps Garbage Pail Kids: The Shammy Awards’ set’ was criticized for containing an explicit message of discrimination against BTS as it was only adequately described for artists other than BTS. . The photo is a pop singer Billy Eilish portrayed by Tops. Ⓒ Tops
Bulletproof Boy Scouts fans and other K-pop fans are using the hashtags “RacismIsntComedy” and “AsiansAreHuman” about Tops’ illustration to reveal their will. As the controversy grew, Tops released a statement in a statement on the 17th, saying, “We understand consumers who are disappointed with BTS’ products,” and removed the BTS card from the set. Billboard, which promoted Tops’ card set on the official website and Twitter, also deleted the link.
However, fans are more angry with Tops’ statement of position. This is because reflection on racist illustrations is suspected in the word’upset’. This is the reason for protests saying, “Apologize properly” and “We need to apologize not only to BTS, but also to the entire Asian community.”
▲ As the controversy grew, Tops announced a statement through the SNS channel and announced that it would exclude the BTS card from the card set, but fans are more angry with the expression in the statement. Ⓒ Topps
It is not the first time that racism has been made against the boy group BTS, which is popular all over the world. On February 24 (local time), Matthias Matushka, the host of the German radio broadcast’Bayern 3′, referred to BTS’ MTV Unplugged performance, saying “Spend 20 years on vacation in North Korea” and “BTS It is representative of apologizing after pouring out an apology, saying, “It is like the Corona 19 virus.”
On June 20, 2019, the host and cast of the program ’20 to One’ of the Australian public broadcasting channel 9 “One of the BTS members is gay” and “4 of the 7 members may be fired” He also poured out ridicule and hate speech on his back. In front of worldwide criticism, the broadcaster officially apologized.