James Corden has angered the BTS ARMY by calling them “15-year-old girls.”
The Kpop group had been attending this year’s UN General Assembly’s Sustainable Development Goals in New York as special presidential envoys for future generations and culture.
RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook performed ‘Permission To Dance’ at the Assembly hall and the grounds outside, and even made a speech.
“Some of you heard the news that we’re coming to the UN and a lot of you were wondering whether we have been vaccinated. And I’ll take this opportunity to say yes, all seven of us, of course, we received vaccinations. The vaccination was just a sort of ticket to meeting our fans are waiting for us and to being able to stand here before you today,” said J-Hope.
Commenting on the “unusual” appearance by the Korean boy band during a segment for The Late Late Show host said, “The United Nations General Assembly kicked off this morning in New York City, and it started with some pretty unusual visitors… BTS were there. BTS visited the UN…”
“Although lots of people are saying why are BTS there, the world leaders have no choice but to take BTS seriously. BTS has one of the largest ARMY on the planet earth. Historic moment. It actually marks the first time that 15 year old girls everywhere found themselves wishing that they were Secretary General António Guterres.”
His comments sent a shockwave through BTS fans across social media. One user highlighted how Corden described BTS’s appearance as “unusual” but it was not even the first time the group had attended the event.
“1. It wasn’t “unusual” for BTS to be there. They’ve been 3 times. 2. They weren’t “visiting”. They were Presidental Envoys who were invited to speak. 3. Teen girls are valid, innovative, smart, & set a lot of trends although we aren’t all teens or girls.”
Another added, “thoughts about that James Corden clip. Firstly calling fans a bunch of 15 year old girls is extremely sexist. It’s a phrase meant to belittle and invalidate women’s interests as less than. BTS has a diverse fanbase in ages, gender and race because they have value and substance.”
The Late Late Show With James Corden has since deleted footage of the host’s comments since the backlash.
Earlier this year, it was announced that The Late Late Show’s segment Spill Your Guts on will no longer feature Asian delicacies.
Corden had been accused of perpetuating anti-Asian racism in the segment in which he gives celebrity guests the option of eating “gross” food or answering a personal question.
In other film and TV news, Awkwafina has addressed using a ‘blaccent’ when acting but Twitter hasn’t received it well.
1. It wasn’t “unusual” for BTS to be there. They’ve been 3 times. 2. They weren’t “visiting”. They were Presidental Envoys who were invited to speak. 3. Teen girls are valid, innovative, smart, & set a lot of trends although we aren’t all teens or girls. #JamesCorden pic.twitter.com/5SZLqS3Z7l
— Ashley⁷∞💜🐙 (@wanderingpages) September 22, 2021
Thoughts about that James Corden clip. Firstly calling fans a bunch of 15 year old girls is extremely sexist. It’s a phrase meant to belittle and invalidate women’s interests as less than. BTS has a diverse fanbase in ages, gender and race because they have value and substance
— 🐨😸☀️Ali ⁷ (@soulcystr) September 22, 2021
FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW WHATS UP W JAMES CORDEN pic.twitter.com/dwetonvOgm
— hobi ✌️ (@legendaryseok) September 22, 2021
Waiting for James Corden to remove Papa Mochi from his bio pic.twitter.com/1mWve7Z1Yh
— MINIMONI FOREVER (@MiniJM_MoniRM) September 22, 2021
James corden really just came and called us all 15 year old girls unprovoked pic.twitter.com/hqhKuTDBEM
— ellie🌙⁷ (@jooniejadore) September 21, 2021
