Australian TV Show Under Fire For Allegedly Racist Segment About BTS At The 2022 GRAMMYs

ARMYs were trending #StopAsianHate!

Although the 2022 GRAMMYs didn’t go exactly the way ARMYs wanted it to go, BTS still shined throughout the night, and it was clear that despite everything, they truly were the main event of the night.

BTS | 64th Grammy Awards

They caught the attention of fans for turning the event into a mini fanmeeting, but they also stole the show with their rendition of “Butter.” The performance had viewers and those at the event on their feet, dancing and singing along.

Unfortunately, one clip has recently gone viral on social media and it is gaining a lot of negative responses from ARMYs. A tweet was sent out from the Twitter account of the Australian show The Project and shared special moments from the event.

However, while the other acts were praised for their talent, netizens noticed that the group was being described in a way that focused on the fact that some of the members had recently tested positive for COVID-19.

K-Pop sensation BTS rocked in, dismissing their very recent battles with COVID-19.

| @theprojecttv/ Twitter 

They then showed a clip of host and comedian Trevor Noah speaking to the members about their health and that some of the members had recently tested positive for the virus.

| @theprojecttv/ Twitter 

In particular, the final clip gained the most negative attention.

Before moving on to the next part of the video, the clip showed member V shouting in excitement over something at the event, but they had edited it in a way that looked like he was coughing out a virus, even though he caught the virus in February.

| @theprojecttv/ Twitter 

As soon as the clip was shared, ARMYs were rightly angry at what they had just seen. In particular, they shared their disgust and determination to report the clip as they saw it as “Blatant racism and it perpetuating Asian hate.”

In particular, the outrage relates to the fact that, since the pandemic started, there has been a large increase in Asian-orientated hate. Many assumed that it’s fueled by xenophobic sentiment tied to the coronavirus’s origins in Wuhan, China, along with the likes of former President Donald Trump’s use of racist terms like “China Virus.”

For many fans and netizens, this kind of tweet seemed to follow the stigma and narrative that the virus was caused in Asian countries. ARMYs also explained that it seemed to fit a racist narrative of harmful stereotypes and, considering the severity of COVID-19, seemed tasteless and insensitive.

It isn’t the first time ARMYs have raised concerns about the portrayal of BTS in Western media in regards to COVID-19. Earlier in the year, Jimmy Kimmel came under fire for comparing BTS “Fever” to COVID-19.

| Jimmy Kimmel/ YouTube 

ARMYs are asking netizens not to watch the clip but to email the show’s producer alongside HYBE to ensure that BTS is protected.

Considering how proud ARMYs are of BTS and their appearance at the 2022 GRAMMYs, it was a sour way to end the event and seemed to showcase the lack of respect people still have for the group, despite their hard work.

Source: @theprojecttv

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