Lately, many people have been worried about the increasing number of hate crimes against Asians worldwide. Not even the music, drama, cultural trends, film industry, etc — world of K-Pop has been left untouched by the racial discrimination that has characterized these times of tribulation.
Facing Discrimination in the Spotlight: BTS' Struggle with Racial Abuse
For instance, BTS is a mega-popular boy band that has taken the music scene by storm.One would think they had no enemies based on their huge number of fans across the globe, but it is not true at all as they have continuously been discriminated against even while on stage in America or during their visits there.
When they started out performing in the United states, there were several types of racial abuse directed towards them ranging from offensive language to outright aggression. This was despite the fact that these people had shown their prize-winning talent in music world-wide thus breaking stereotypes, and also contributing towards growth of music industry thereby bringing different communities together, all these played out racism is real even in apparently developed countries.
So many questions would be raised about the treatment of BTS when they were in America; this however opens another chapter on the issues of xenophobia which is a dislike against people from other countries and anti-Asian prejudices. Regardless of the fact that K-pop is being enjoyed all over the world, artists from Asia still undergo a lot because they are stereotyped and discriminated against too.
From Admiration to Criticism: Stray Kids' Ordeal with American Paparazzi
In a more recent incident, the K-pop group Stray Kids made history as the first Korean group to attend at the prestigious Met Gala in 2024. However, their groundbreaking moment was overshadowed by a painful experience that highlighted the ongoing struggles Asian artists face in the entertainment industry.
When Stray Kids arrived, they faced challenges from the American press and other guests. Instead of a warm welcome, they encountered criticism and disrespectful remarks, with some even questioning their presence at the event.American paparazzi, in particular, showed a lack of sensitivity, treating the Stray Kids members as mere objects of entertainment. They made disparaging comments about their appearance and behavior, comparing them to robots and criticizing their supposed inability to smile.
As the pressure mounted, the members were coerced into performing for the cameras, further exacerbating the situation. Videos capturing their discomfort went viral, highlighting the blatant disregard for their dignity.
This unfortunate incident underscores the ongoing biases and stereotypes Asian performers face in the entertainment industry. Despite their talent, they're often ridiculed or exoticized for others' entertainment.
Mind you these are the kpoppies who bashed BTS for speaking at white house on anti Asian and the hate towards asians. These people laughed when people were being racists and compared my boys with cov!d
— Bak⁷🌱 ʳᵖʷᵖ CBTM is coming (@hobas_2mini7) May 7, 2024
I'll never forget any of these https://t.co/F1eaquu9Ed
BTS and Stray Kids: Promoting Equality and Unity Through Their Music
It’s important to remember that when BTS were given the honor to speak at the White House, it was to speak about the topic of racism, discrimination, and hate towards the Asian community. NO ONE deserves that 🥺
— 𝐊𝐢𝐦𝐊𝐢𝐦 ꪜ 💜🧬 ⟭ARMY!⟬ (@KimsterW) May 8, 2024
WITH BTS TILL THE END #BTSARMY #BTS
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