Jimmy Kimmel likens BTS to a fever and is accused of racism for the comment on his TV show, especially with anti-Asian hate on the rise in US
- TV host Jimmy Kimmel made a quip to Emily in Paris star Ashley Park about ‘BTS fever’ and likened it to Covid-19, prompting angry questions on social media
- Many called his words dangerous in light of rising anti-Asian sentiment which led to crimes such as the murder of six Asian women in a gun rampage in the US
Jimmy Kimmel, host of the US television talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has drawn accusations of racism after equating South Korean pop group BTS to a fever.
He is the latest in a line of comedians to have been called out for racism after using the K-pop act as a punchline.
In a recent episode, a clip from which was posted to YouTube on January 21, Kimmel spoke with Emily In Paris star Ashley Park.
During their conversation, Park said that when BTS’ members shared her in-show cover of their 2022 song Dynamite she felt a physical reaction that she thought at first was intense shock, but in fact she tested positive for Covid-19 shortly afterwards.
In response, Kimmel said: “You thought it was BTS fever. They’re both very dangerous; you’re lucky to come out of those alive.”