Joe Biden to host K-pop superstars BTS, discuss anti-Asian hate crimes
- The president will talk to the group at the White House about issues like inclusion and discrimination, amid a rise in attacks on Asian-Americans
- The meeting comes as May’s recognition of Asian-American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) month comes to a close
K-pop superstars BTS will head to the White House next week to address hate crimes targeting Asians and people of Asian descent with US President Joe Biden, the White House said in a statement on Thursday.
Biden would host the global phenomenon musical group on Tuesday and would “discuss Asian inclusion and representation, and to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination which have become more prominent issues in recent years”, it said.
The seven members of the South Korean boy band are known for their upbeat songs and dances and have built a loyal global fan base, winning the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year crown in February for the second straight year.
The meeting comes as May’s recognition of Asian-American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) month comes to a close amid a sharp upswing in hate crimes against Asian-Americans in the past year.
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