Chilean TV channel Megamedia has issued an apology for the parody sketch of K-pop superstars BTS shown on its comedy program “Mi barrio” (“My neighborhood”) on April 10.
The sketch comedy in the segment “El late de Raquel” showed a group of five people introducing themselves as BTS members and also using the name North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
When asked to introduce themselves, the parody group said:
Person 1: “Kim Jung-un(o)” (or “1”)
Person 2: “Kim Jung-dos” (or “2”)
Person 1: “Kim Jung-tres” (or “3”)
Person 4: “Kim Jung-cuatro” (or “4”)
Person 5: “Juan Carlos”
The host also asked them to reveal their real names and they said, “V,” “Jungkook,” “Agust D,” “J-Hope” and “Jin.”
And when the host requested them to speak in Korean, the person who identified himself as “Juan Carlos” said something unintelligible and added, “I got vaccinated,” according to a translation by BTS Chile Twitter account.
BTS ARMYs immediately denounced the parody sketch, accusing the show of being racist towards the K-pop idol group.
In a statement posted on its Twitter account, Megamedia said, "Regarding the controversy this weekend as a result of a sketch broadcast on the program ‘Mi Barrio,’ Megamedia wishes to declare the following:
“Humor helps people deal with the difficult times that we are going through due to the pandemic.
Mega's humor has clearly established limits in its programmatic orientations and these are public knowledge,” it said.
It added, “However, we want to express our absolute empathy with those who may have been affected by the section ‘El late de Raquel’ and we apologize. It was never our intention to offend, insult or hurt any community.”
“We will continue to improve, learn, listen and firm in our intention: to bring entertainment to families. We collect all the positive comments and also the criticisms to improve our actions,” it said.
In February, German radio host Matthias Matuschik apologized for attacking BTS on his show, likening them to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that should be eradicated with a vaccine and saying they should be sent to North Korea for their cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You” on “MTV Unplugged.”