"BTS is like Corona" insults German radio host...Criticism of racism

A German radio host has been controversial for making abusive remarks comparing the performance of the group BTS to the coronavirus.

Amid growing criticism of "racism" centered on BTS fans around the world, broadcasters and parties have apologized, but faced a rebuttal that it is not an apology.

According to local media on the 25th, Matthias Matussek, a program host for German radio station "Bayern 3," criticized BTS' recent performance of "MTV Unplugged" on the previous night's broadcast.

MTV Unplugged is an acoustic sound-based live program on MTV that specializes in American music. Legendary musicians such as Nirvana, Bob Dylan, and Oasis stood on the stage.

BTS performed for the first time as a Korean singer on the MTV Unplugged stage that aired on the 24th.

On the same day, they performed five live songs, including a cover stage of "Fix You" by the British rock band Coldplay. Fix You is a song that has received worldwide love with a message of healing and comfort.

"Everyone must have had a hard time last year, but we were comforted by this song," Jimin said. "We prepared a cover in the hope that you will also be comforted."

The original artist Coldplay posted a cover stage video of BTS on their YouTube and Twitter accounts, writing "Beautiful BTS" in Korean and tagging BTS' SNS accounts.

However, Matussek called BTS' appearance on MTV Unplugged "implicated" and boasted that "the tiny peeves covered Coldplay's Fix You." It is called "divine blasphemy."

Furthermore, Matussek harshly criticized, "The unpleasant will have to spend the next 20 years on vacation in North Korea."

In particular, he likened BTS to coronavirus and sarcastically said, "It is hopeful for a vaccine (for BTS)."

"I have no feelings for Korea," he said. "You can't blame me for being a racist just because these boys are from Korea. I have a Korean car."