Chilean TV network apologizes to BTS for inappropriate skit after backlash

by Cameron Jenkins - 04/14/21 2:10 PM ET

A Chilean television network issued an apology to South Korean boy band BTS this week after it received backlash for a skit it aired that made inappropriate jokes about Asians.

The sketch that ran on the Mega TV network on Sunday had comedians dressed as BTS members introduce themselves starting with “Kim Jong Uno” and “Kim Jong Dos” in mocking Korean accents. The characters then receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Fans of BTS immediately expressed outrage over the skit and sent out tweets using the hashtag #ElRacismoNoEsComedia, or racism is not comedy, Billboard reported.

In its apology posted to Twitter on Monday, Mega wrote that “humor helps people deal with the difficult moments of the pandemic that we are going through,” adding the network uses specific guidelines for humor that is appropriate to broadcast on its airwaves.

“We want to express our absolute empathy with those who may have been affected by the sketch on ‘El Late De Raquel,’ and we apologize accordingly. It was never our intention to offend, insult, or hurt any community,” Mega wrote.

Declaración pública pic.twitter.com/8Cd3ui9awb

— Mega (@Mega) April 12, 2021

The incident occurred amid an increase in violence and hate against the Asian American and Pacific Islanders community in the United States. BTS previously condemned the hate in a statement released last month.

“What is happening right now cannot be disassociated from our identities as Asians,” BTS said at the time. “We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected.”