Chilean TV Network Apologizes For Comedy Sketch About BTS

Apr 13, 2021

A Chilean TV network has issued an apology after receiving backlash for a sketch about BTS on the comedy show “Mi Barrio.”

The sketch comes from the April 10 broadcast of Mega TV’s comedy show “Mi Barrio.” The segment involved five members of a boy band who were appearing on a talk show. When asked to introduce themselves, they stated that their names were Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Dos, Kim Jong Tres, Kim Jong Cuatro, and Juan Carlos. The first name implies an association with the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and the following three names count upwards in Spanish.

When asked what their real names were, the members introduced themselves as V, Jungkook, Agust D, J-Hope, and Jin, confirming that they were parodying BTS. They shared that only one member was able to speak Korean but actually began speaking in accented nonsense, “translating” the line to “I got the vaccine.”

Following the broadcast, many BTS fans began expressing their discomfort with the segment by trending the hashtag #RacismIsNotComedy and filing formal complaints to the Chilean National Television Council.

On April 12 (local time), broadcasting station Mega took to their Twitter account to issue an apology. They commented, “To all those who are hurt, we want to apologize and show our empathy. We had no intention to insult or hurt any community. We will continue to learn, improve, and listen.”