Australia’s Channel 9 has apologised twice in less than 24 hours in the wake of hundreds of thousands of tweets from the mammoth fandom behind South Korean pop band, BTS.
Superfans of BTS flocked to social media in the early hours of Thursday morning, reacting to a segment from ’20 To One’ – a countdown-based show on Channel 9.
The show, hosted by Erin Molan and Nick Cody, was focusing on “global crazes” and featured BTS at number 18, before a range of guests did everything from calling the singing “passable” to declaring BTS “the biggest band you’ve never heard of.”
Perhaps the most significiant jab came from comedian Jimmy Carr, who added this line:
“When I first heard something Korean had exploded in America, I got worried… So it could have been worse. But not much worse.”
https://twitter.com/lukewaltham/status/1141391188215439361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1141391188215439361&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pedestrian.tv%2Fnews%2Fheres-your-explainer-on-the-wild-alex-williamson-k-pop-fandom-drama%2F
Shortly after the episode aired, BTS fans and K-Pop fans began reacting to the episode which they said was xenophobic and disrespectful. Both the hashtags #Channel9Apologise and (American spelling) #Channel9Apologize trended across the globe, in what is only the latest in a long history of stan culture, and the fandoms it has helped promote, flexing its muscles on social media.
To make matters more complicated and adding to the chaos, comedian Alex Williamson (whose whole thing is being deliberately offensive) got involved and called the fans cunts – a term some of the international fans (read: the majority of them) did not take to kindly. Soon enough #FireAlexWilliamson was also trending around the world with almost 200,000 tweets. You can read more about all of that mess here.
Late on Thursday night the ’20 To One’ Twitter account released an apology tweet, apologising for “any disrespect and offence taken.”
— 20 to One (@20toOne) June 20, 2019
And while the Australian network has now tried twice in English and once in translated Korean to quell the outrage cycle, BTS fans are not impressed, calling for public apology. The segment even made to it local Korean news.
Congrats you guys made it to the Korean news channels too pic.twitter.com/qTm50kYonz
— •-• (@jkvvjk_) 20 June 2019
This below mediocre sentence, which I refuse to call apology, clearly shows how you continue to disrespect the group and their fans for not taking the matter seriously. However, not surprised, as character that you previously depicted tells what kind of values you share
— 하꼬바라기 ???? 국포 (@naaadmd) 20 June 2019
https://twitter.com/_CecillieJensen/status/1141653976200466437
The reality of the damage control operations running around this event seems to be that there’s not much Channel 9 or ’20 To One’ or Alex Williamson can do. No matter the level of apology, very few things would stop BTS fans swarming on the topic. Stan culture exists as a modern equivalent to Beatlemania, juiced up by the internet. It’ll keep going until something else snatches the attention.
One of the first Twitter accounts to initiate the backlash was @AustraliaBTS, the social base of BTS fans living in Australia. Their issues seem not just with the perceived xenophobia or offensive content, but with the lack of recognition given to the band. Speaking to me via Twitter DMs, @AustraliaBTS listed the band’s achievements: topping Australia’s streaming charts, having four songs certified gold, being the first ever K-Pop band to receive ARIA accreditation in Australia, speaking at the United Nations, and their extensive charity work.
“This has highlighted the growth of K-Pop in Australia,” they said, “with more Australian fans actively engaging in viewing/streaming parties and requesting BTS songs on radio.”
“Many fans tuned in to the show ’20 To 1′ with high hopes and increasing anticipation, only to be upset and disappointed by the way BTS’ popularity was highlighted.”
“The comments comparing the group’s impact to political and nuclear war, coupled with the mockery put forth which was directed at the BTS fan base and members singing abilities by a number of talking heads have all contributed to the raising havoc and anger brewing on social media platforms including Twitter.”
“What was expected to be a positive contribution in drawing attention to BTS’ accomplishments, humanitarian efforts and rising popularity, turned out to be the complete opposite. It’s disappointing to still see/hear that powerful platforms in Australia, that have the ability and potential to create educational and awareness-raising networks against racism, are being questioned and under fire for ultimately condoning the behaviour we’re trying to eliminate altogether.”
Another fan, @starboybri, echoed the complaints.
Of course, because it’s in a language that they don’t understand or because they’re seen as a ‘cookie cutter boy band that steals money out of the pockets of 14-year-olds’, ’20 To One’ AND Alex Williamson have mocked everything from race to accomplishments and it’s distasteful and infuriating because all of this could have been solved if they tried to create a humorous piece that was well researched and well though out. On both ends. Shocking humour can still be respectful if you know how to do it write, and they obviously do not.
So there you go – we’re on to Day 2 of BTS drama. It’s Friday, though. Maybe the weekend will help.
