Popular Korean boy band BTS is under fire from a prominent Jewish group following accusations the international superstars posed with Nazi symbols, reports CNN.
“Flags appearing on stage at their concert were eerily similar to the Nazi Swastika,” the Simon Wiesenthal Center said on its website. It goes without saying that this group, which was invited to speak at the UN, owes the people of Japan and the victims of the Nazism an apology.”
The reference to Japan comes after one of the members of the band wore a t-shirt on Japanese TV that appeared to celebrate the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in WWII.
Fans also condemned the group.
Use an outdated n word expression, it’s not less offensive to black people.
Paint a swastika on a Catholic’s home, it’s not less offensive to Jewish people. 2/ https://t.co/kb27OQFQXK
— Jonathan Wong (@RealJonWong) November 5, 2018
BTS’s management company immediately apologized, according to the Huffington Post.
Big Hit Entertainment apologized to “anyone who may have experienced distress and discomfort by witnessing the association of our artists with imagery related to atomic bombings” and “anyone affected by totalitarian regimes.”
Jimin, who wore the T-shirt, referenced the incident during a recent concert.
“It saddens me to think that not only you ARMY [the name for BTS fans], but many people around the world must’ve been surprised recently because of the many circumstances,” Jimin said, according to Billboard. “I believe there will be many more opportunities for us to meet each other. I won’t be able to forget my first Tokyo Dome performance with you today.”
The Wiesenthal Center welcomed the apology from BTS’s management company.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed an apology from Korean pop group BTS’ management for incidents—a band member wearing a hat emblazoned with the Nazi SS “Totenkopf” emblem, another member wearing a t-shirt with pictures of the WWII atomic bombs, and the band performing in costumes resembling SS uniforms and flying Nazi-like flags—offensive to both Jewish victims of the Holocaust and Japanese victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Center had called on the group and its backers to apologize.
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RE: Jewish Group Accuses Jewish Group ofPosing with Nazi-style symbol.#AAPI: Wow. What poor taste and ignorance. I’d love to hear their rationale for these choices.
RE: Jewish Group Accuses BTS of Posing with Nazi-style Symbol: What a weasel worded apology . Can’t you just say you’re sorry and the boy band didn’t know the meaning of the symbol. Just show these kids the five minutes from the film Judgement at Nuremburg with the death camps. They won’t be wearing any swastikas after that.
RE: Jewish Group Accused BTS of Posing with Nazi-style Symbol: Opps their PR person needs to educate them before they tour. Those hats are not good.