Celebrity talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is no stranger to controversy for racial insensitivity. During a recent show, he spoke about Korean boy band BTS and their global fan base. In a series of statements comprised of a very poor choice of words, Kimmel compared BTS to COVID-19 saying that they are “both very dangerous”. His casual racism wasn’t taken lightly, nor should it. Furious Armys slammed him for the joke if you can call it that and frankly, he had it coming.
In an interview with Ashley Park, Jimmy Kimmel talked about her BTS cover of ‘Dynamite’ which she performed in an episode of Emily In Paris. With reference to Park’s fangirl moment, Kimmel revealed that BTS’ appearances on his show tend to become a major event for Armys. “You sang a BTS song on the show and I wonder what the fallout from something like that is because I know that. We have had BTS on our show and people are absolutely their fans, like they will camp out, and they are probably out in the parking lot, waiting for the next time they come on. They are absolutely crazed for these guys. You have to be careful with an ARMY because they could attack,” he said jokingly.
And as if mocking the band’s fandom wasn’t enough he went on to mock the band. When Ashley shared her reaction to RM and V’s response to her ‘Dynamite’ cover and revealed that she tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Kimmel said “You thought it was BTS fever”. “They’re both very dangerous. You’re lucky to come out alive.”
Watch Kimmel make a complete fool of himself here:
Fans are rightfully enraged and shared their thoughts on what it’s like to watch a white man casually take a racist dig at Asian artists while in the company of another Asian artist.
The audacity to say that about an Asian artist in front of an Asian woman. @jimmykimmel really compared BTS to COVID in the year 2022 and amidst all the anti-Asian hate. + pic.twitter.com/fTvSSIgcsC
— bora ✨✨ (@modooborahae) January 21, 2022
I’m so shocked that it’s allowed to say things like this on tv in front of an asian woman. The audacity of this man to be openly racist, I’m fed up with this type of behaviour. We are in the fucking 21th century it would be good to grow up no ?! #JimmyKimmelRacist #JimmyKimmel https://t.co/fzyRyxQQYw
— Emma⁷ (@_CookyAndChimmy) January 22, 2022
Armys are losing faith in American talk show hosts.
NOW THERE’S NO ONE WESTERN HOST TO TRUST ANYMORE. FIRST IT’S JAMES CORDEN, NOW THIS JIMMY KIMMEL. #jimmykimmel https://t.co/tsXEtLCGxS
— 신지혜 (@winterbear0319) January 21, 2022
This. Is. Not. Okay. 😡
That was a racist, xenophobic statement. @JimmyKimmelLive @jimmykimmel #StopAsianHateCrimes #StopAsianHate #JimmyKimmel #JimmyKimmelRacist https://t.co/j5CEhOqkzG— BTSquestrian ⁷ (@NoonaMoonie) January 21, 2022
Ashley Park’s ‘Dynamite’ cover was a pretty good tribute to a record-shattering song by BTS. The track dropped in 2020 and debuted on the No.1 spot on Billboard Hot 100.
Cover image: Bit Hit Music
