Chilean comedy show under fire for making racist sketch against BTS

The incident comes just weeks after BTS spoke out against anti-Asian racism. A Chilean comedy show called Mi Barrio is currently facing backlash over a parody sketch about the K-pop boy band BTS. On April 10, the show aired a parody of the BTS members and made fun of the Korean language.
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The parody also featured jokes about COVID-19 and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. In the sketch, the cast that parodied BTS were introduced with names like “Kim Jong-Uno”; “Kim Jong-dos” and “Kim Jong-tres”.

That means “Kim Jong-One“, “Kim Jong-Two” and “Kim Jon Three” respectively. Causing outrage from fans. Some fans of the group, also known as ARMY, have described the jokes that were made during the sketch as “racist” and “XENOPHOBIC“.

[THREAD] Last night, Chilean comedy TV show (open TV channel available to the whole country) presented a parody performance of BTS, where all the jokes were based on racism and xenophobia, including mockery of their language, (cont.)

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— BTS Chile ⁷ ? (@BTS_Chile)

With the recent increase of hate and racist crimes against Asians in Western countries, this is not funny at all. However the Chilean comedy television show featured a parody where all the jokes were based on racism and xenophobia. Including the mockery of the korean language; their names, and a joke related to the pandemic and it’s supposed origin in an Asian country.

The situation is insensitive considering the discriminatory attacks that the Asian community has suffered worldwide in the recents months.

However, fans around the world started using the hashtag #ElRacismoNoEsComedia on Twitter that means #RacismIsNotComedy to clarify the situation. So far, the show has responded by posting the following on Instagram:

“Thanks you all for the good vibes! We will continue to improve, learn, listen and stand firm in our good intentions, to bring fun to families. () We are aware of all the positive comments and also the criticisms online, but that is what we are here for, to provide a bit of humor and fun“. This insensitives jokes comes weeks after BTS released an anti-racism statement asking for respect and love.

— 방탄소년단 (@BTS_twt)