Billboard Music Awards 2017: Backlash Over BTS Win Proves How Racist People Can Be

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Billboard Music Awards 2017: ADVERTISEMENT Backlash Over BTS Win Proves How Racist People Can Be SUGGESTED FOR YOU

HuffPost Canada | By Isabelle Khoo How To Prevent Those Pesky Mosquito Posted: 05/23/2017 12:58 pm EDT Updated: 05/24/2017 11:35 am EDT Bites

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BTS, a South Korean boy band, deserved all the celebration on Sunday night when they became the frst K-Pop group to be nominated and win a Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist. Meghan Markle Was Asked Point Blank If She Wanted To Marry Prince Harry

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http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/05/23/bts-billboard-music-awards-2017_n_16768224.html[6/16/2017 10:59:35 AM] Billboard Music Awards 2017: Backlash Over BTS Win Proves How Racist People Can Be

BTS at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. This Vancouver Artist Sketches Nude But unfortunately, some people took to Twitter to express their outrage because they Bodies As A Form Of Self-Acceptance didn’t think an Asian group deserved to win over stars such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes and Selena Gomez.

The backlash on social media proves how shockingly racist people can be.

Who are these Asians!? #BBMA — SHANELLICA (@nonchalantKUNT) May 22, 2017

How To Regain Confidence After Divorce @briannampnelson The ignorance is astounding. Who are BTS? You couldn't say that? You had to say Who are these Asians in bowl cuts. Not derogatory at all. pic.twitter.com/rRpZZve0du — Susy S (@SusyBangtan) May 23, 2017

"who are these asians and why did they win??"

"bts who? asian one direction??" How To Learn Vocabulary Fast When Learning A Language "what are these asians doing here??"

THIS IS DISRESPEC — mara (@jackson_namjoon) May 22, 2017

According to Next Shark, one user, who has since deleted her account, also wrote that she couldn’t understand what BTS members were saying in their acceptance speech, despite the fact that it was done in English. A Little White Bread Won't Hurt Your Health “[I don’t even know] who those Asians were. I don’t wanna know. I’m bafed,” she wrote. “I didn’t understand what they said. Award shows are so trash now.”

Buzzfeed also reports that another user wrote, “Not trying to be racist, but you don't see any American singer or band participating in a Korean award show so, like, BTS please just go back to Korea.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/05/23/bts-billboard-music-awards-2017_n_16768224.html[6/16/2017 10:59:35 AM] Billboard Music Awards 2017: Backlash Over BTS Win Proves How Racist People Can Be

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BTS, also known as The Bangtan Boys, has a vast fan base who call themselves the “Army.” Before the award show, the hashtag #BTSBBMAS was used over 300 million times on Twitter. FOLLOW HUFFPOST

“BTS was one of the frst groups to fully embrace social media and completely open themselves up to fans,” said Flowsion Shekar, the CEO of Koreaboo, a popular website specializing in K-Pop news. “International fans were able to really relate to them and feel like they truly knew the members individually.”

Despite the negative response the group received on Twitter, the “Army” is taking the HuffPost Daily Brief Living high road and reminding the world why BTS’ win at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards Get top sories and blog poss emailed to me each day.. is so important.

YOU MAY LIKE Promoted Links Winning on BBMA means they just closed the barriers between asians and westernians. BTS represents us a whole & not as a kpop group itself. — yoongi's (@kkaebjjang0993) May 23, 2017

As bts winning Top Social Artist at bbma i hope we asians get more recognition and respect #BTSBBMAs The Best Looks from 22 killed in Ariana the 2017 Billboard Grande concert attack — Vivi sama (@_viviwatanabe) May 23, 2017 Awards in Manchester

not only did bts win the frst bbma in their genre, but they were fnally able to show the world asians can do much more #BBMAs #BTS — lexii (@ashftbeebo) May 22, 2017

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/05/23/bts-billboard-music-awards-2017_n_16768224.html[6/16/2017 10:59:35 AM] Billboard Music Awards 2017: Backlash Over BTS Win Proves How Racist People Can Be

Reisterstown, Family Takes Same BTS winning a bbma is about breaking the barriers for Asians all over the world Maryland: This Brilliant Photo For 22 Years - Company Is Disrupti… Last One Is A… — Angela (@angelaleeee) May 22, 2017 EverQuote Insurance The Brofessional

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Super proud of @BTS_twt ,we need more cultural representation,not many Asians and other foreign artists have this kind of attention #BBMA pic.twitter.com/q0f7NGIuLL — Bts_Infres (@BtsInfres4) May 22, 2017

Fans drove home the point that Asians are more than just their stereotypes. They can be more than just doctors, mathematicians and the butt of a joke, and they deserve to be represented and given respect.

BTS frst gained fame in 2013 after releasing their frst single “No More Dream.” Although they are the frst K-Pop group to win a Billboard award, they are the second Korean artist to win at the award show after PSY, who won the Top Streaming Song award for “Gangnam Style” in 2013.

In their acceptance speech, member Kim Nam-joon, known as “Rap Monster,” said, “We still cannot believe that we’re standing here on this stage at the Billboard Music Awards. It is so great to see all the artists we admire, and we feel honoured to be in this category with such great artists right in front of us.”

He then thanked fans and said, “Please, ARMY, remember what we say: Love myself, love yourself.”

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http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/05/23/bts-billboard-music-awards-2017_n_16768224.html[6/16/2017 10:59:35 AM] Billboard Music Awards 2017: Backlash Over BTS Win Proves How Racist People Can Be

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