Racism is a social evil that plagues the entire world. Asians, Africans, Latin and Native Americans are the ones who suffer the most because of it. Even in our country, people from the North-East are victims of racism too and this has increased ever since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
The recent victim to blatant racism is the popular K-Pop boy band BTS. A German radio network host named Matthias Matuschik, who works for Bayern 3, recently targetted BTS for their ‘Fix You’ unplugged cover. He called them a “similar virus like COVID-19”, that there should be a “vaccine against them”, and that they will be “vacationing in North Korea for the next 20 years” for this, reports News18.
Later, the radio channel issued a response wherein they said Matthias did not “intend” to be racist but was just playing a “character” who also expressed “his opinion clearly, openly, and without make-up, in his attempt to express his opinion in a clear, open and ironic, exaggerated way and with exaggerated excitement.”
Such racist slurs left BTS fans, popularly known as ‘Army’, shocked. Several took to Twitter to demand an apology from Matthias, slammed him for his statements, and highlighted that racism is not an “opinion”. Soon, Bayern3Apologize, #Bayern3Racist, and #ApologizeToBTS began trending on Twitter.
Here’s what some of them said:
There’s a fine line between social commentary and sugar coated racism and we all know which side this falls on. Uhmm how do people even tolerate this blatant stupidity? What a sad and pathetic excuse for entertainment journalism #Bayern3Racist #apologizetobts pic.twitter.com/ipo5gmQrxm
— ⟭⟬ ggukie⁷ ⟭⟬ (@shookjinkook_) February 26, 2021
It is not surprising to see so much hatred everywhere in the world, the world has always lived under racism especially against Asians and Africans. We must stand up against RACISM at any price. APOLOGIZE TO BTS
RACISM IS NOT AN OPINION #Bayern3Racist #RassismusbeiBayern3 pic.twitter.com/Ztcu8AlgF8
— ARMYLife JK (@SwiftLife5) February 26, 2021
You must to know what are you saying and doing ! Apologize to @BTS_twt right know ! Racism is an undesirable sensitivity. You saw it as a joke but for us it was extremely intrusive! #Bayern3Racist #Bayern3Racist
RACISM IS NOT AN OPINION #RassismusBeiBayern3#Bayern3Racist pic.twitter.com/4L5kGQQNzr— mnie⁷ (@selena_mnie0613) February 26, 2021
bts has been a victim of racism for years. this is the time we must not be silent about it. be the voice for everyone who experience racism be the voice for BTS and all asians. racism is not an opinion and it will never be. apologize to bts#Bayern3Racist #RassismussBeiBayern3 pic.twitter.com/1Br5dWFn4g
— BTS💜BANGTAN💕 (@BTSARMY_07GIRL) February 26, 2021
Some ppl really think that FREEDOM OF SPEECH means they can call other ppl shts just because they want to. There's a hugr diff. between opinion and insult!
RACISM IS NOT AN OPINION
APOLOGIZE TO BTS#RassismusBeiBayern3#Bayern3Racist pic.twitter.com/myu4PebRm6— HaeriGirL92 (@HaeriLee4) February 26, 2021
this is bullshit. throwing rasict remarks and being evidently hateful isn't "expressing displease". you didn't only hurt the feelings of the fans but crossed a dangerous line. this is obnoxious.
APOLOGIZE TO BTS. #Bayern3Apologize #Bayern3Racist #RassismusBeiBayern3 pic.twitter.com/p1WoIOn6U7
— koko⁷ track #7 (@kokoshwee) February 26, 2021
His dumbass logic of him using asian products to prove him not being racist just shows how meagre brains these racists have. Aren't mfs over relating asians & corona virus??
RACISM IS NEVER AN OPTION
APOLOGIZE TO BTS#Bayern3Racist#Bayern3Apologize pic.twitter.com/nP0WXySaIH— pearlychimchim⁷ (@Mochibolala1306) February 26, 2021
If you don't like them, ignore them. but being a racist and xenophobic and still justifying it by saying it's just your opinion is so disgusting.
RACISM IS NOT AN OPINION
APOLOGIZE TO BTS#Bayern3Racist #Bayern3Apologize pic.twitter.com/hCVHRimEut— ja⁷ ༄ (@arkivepjm) February 26, 2021
This is so disgusting!
Just because you don't like their music doesn't mean you can say racist thing against them, And the fact is that @BTS_twt always against racism, You're just hurting others' feelings
RACISM IS NOT AN OPINION
APOLOGIZE TO BTS#Bayern3Apologize#Bayern3Racist pic.twitter.com/QVzinvVlPG— Shivani💜💜 (@shivanis_7) February 26, 2021
Racism against Asians is so normalized, and that needs to end. BTS are literally the most kind-hearted people, and they don’t deserve to be treated like this. I will always protect my boys. #Bayern3Racist #Bayern3Apologize RACISM IS NOT AN OPINION
APOLOGIZE TO BTS pic.twitter.com/9MFwMt7ENg— Mackenna⁷ (@mackle_doodle) February 26, 2021
How is comparing someone to a PANDEMIC an opinion? If you dislike them, that’s a whole other story. But in this case, you are blatantly attacking them. For what? For being Koreans, for being Asians? #Bayern3Racist
RACISM IS NOT AN OPINION
APOLOGIZE TO BTS pic.twitter.com/1eZONtoxp9— Spring Dae⁷ (@SpringDae2) February 26, 2021
We don't have any right to discriminate people. I would like to remind that these words exist, "RESPECT" and "KINDNESS."
"Before you say something, think how you'd feel if someone said it you."
RACISM IS NOT AN OPINION.
APOLOGIZE TO BTS.#Bayern3Apologize#Bayern3Racist pic.twitter.com/kkoiorABBA— arem⁷ 🌙 (@jenjoony) February 26, 2021
there’s a huge difference between stating your opinion and expressing racism towards others! We are in 2021 and still ppl have this kind of mindset… this is disgusting…
RACISM IS NOT AN OPINION
APOLOGIZE TO BTS#RassismusBeiBayern3#Bayern3Racist pic.twitter.com/L49WSm9Lh6— Kajal Youniverse🌍⁷ (@kmohanty99) February 26, 2021
You can here BTS’s ‘Fix You’ cover here:
Not just BTS. Nobody deserves to be racially attacked. We hope that a proper apology is issued regarding this matter.