Halsey and Lauv have spoken out in defence of BTS after a German radio host compared the K-pop group to coronavirus. DJ Matthias Matuschik came under fire this week after insulting the band as he played their recent cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You” on his Bayern3 show.
Calling the group’s version of the song “blasphemy”, he then said that BTS were “some crappy virus that hopefully there will be a vaccine for soon as well” (translation via Associated Press). While Matuschik immediately backtracked on his comments, saying that he couldn’t be xenophobic because he “had a car from South Korea”, he later apologised and said that he never intended to “racially insult” the band
On Friday (26 February) night, Halsey wrote that she was “horrified” by Matuschik’s words as she defended the “Dynamite” hitmakers
“Racism and xenophobia cannot be thinly veiled as ‘on-air humour’,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “Irresponsible and disgusting statements in a time where hate speech and violent behaviour towards Asian communities are skyrocketing.
This is unacceptable. I hope a better apology to BTS, and the Asian communities across the world, is on its way.”
Singer Lauv also tweeted: “Standing by my @bts_bighit brothers and everyone continuously effected [sic] by racist remarks as hurtful as what we heard on Bayern 3. No one should have to endure this and together we must stand up and stop it.”
