Last week, BTS made an appearance on MTV Unplugged, performing a selection of songs from their latest album BE. The grandiose occasion included a cover of Coldplay’s 2005 hit “Fix You,” intended to bring further comfort to fans. In an instant, thousands of members of the BTS ARMY shared their admiration for the band’s rendition of the song over social media. Needless to say, it was a moment of much needed positivity for millions of fans all over the world.
However, this moment turned into an occasion for German radio host Matthias Matuschik to let his true colors show. During a broadcast on Bayern 3, the host expressed his distaste for the band’s cover of “Fix You,” and proceeded to compare them to a virus like COVID-19. He wished a vaccine would be made, and that the group would leave to North Korea for the next 20 years. In addition, Matuschik claimed that he cannot be called xenophobic, and that he has “a car from South Korea.”
Since the start of the pandemic, Asians have faced an increase in discriminatory comments, threats, and hate crimes. In the United States, former President Donald Trump seized any and every opportunity to blame China for the pandemic. He constantly referred to COVID-19 as the “China virus,” which ultimately fueled hatred towards Asian Americans, as well as Asians all over the world. In June 2020, Stop AAPI Hate (a joint effort between the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies department) reported that there had been 832 incidents of COVID-19 related discrimination and harassment towards Asian Americans in the state of California alone.
Many of the victims of these anti-Asian hate crimes have been elders. At the beginning of February, an 84-year-old man in San Francisco was killed by having been pushed into the pavement. A 91-year-old man was also pushed to the ground while walking in Oakland, California’s Chinatown. Just days later, a 64-year-old grandmother was assaulted, having over $1,000 in cash stolen from her.
In New York, 61-year-old Noel Quintana was approached by a man who kicked the tote bag that he had set on the floor of the L train. Quintana tried to distance himself from the man, but the man slashed Quintana’s face with a box cutter. In an interview with the New York Daily News, Quintana mentioned that none of the other riders on the train came to his help.
We are living in a time where xenophobia has been running rampant, and has led to life-altering, even fatal consequences. Speech that fuels these sentiments and ultimately encourages these despicable actions should be denounced, without even thinking twice. It is incredibly dangerous to give it a platform, especially through a nationwide, publicly funded source.
But in just a few hours, Matthias Matuschik will be returning to German public radio.
Immediately after video of Matuschik’s comments surfaced online, #RassismusBeiBayern3 and #Bayern3Racist began trending on Twitter. Other hashtags followed, which led Bayern 3 to issue a statement on the situation. The station regarded Matuschik’s words as his own opinion, and that he is “miles away” from being racist. Matuschik also added, “It makes me all the more sad when I hurt others with a thoughtless, actually funny statement and put myself in the wrong light. I made a big mistake that I’ll learn from.”
The statement, which was regarded by the station as an apology, was an opportunity to gaslight everyone who found Matuschik’s words to be damaging. It should be noted that this is not a matter of a group of people, specifically the stereotypical demographic of “hysterical teenage girls,” being upset due to someone expressing their dislike of a song, or even BTS as a group. This is a matter of a media figure with a very large platform, using his distaste for a song performed by a Korean band as an occasion to flaunt his hatred towards Koreans, and ultimately other Asians.
Matuschik was never sorry, and Buzzfeed Germany quoted that he found it “out of place” that the “currently very popular racism club” was being used for his statements. If anything, Matuschik was only sorry that he was caught and called out on, but this alone will not be enough for him to “learn from.”
Accountability should not start and end with trending hashtags. It must be carried out into the real world, and lead to changes that will prevent the scenario in question to repeat itself. Matuschik must have his platform revoked, but “the powers that be” at Bayern 3 are equally as reckless for not having done so yet. In 2015, Matuschik made anti-semitic remarks, comparing smoking areas to “a square of Jews.” By the way, Matuschik drives a Daihatsu Copen, which is a Japanese car.
Don’t tell me he was talking about this car… which is actually NOT a South Korean car… it’s a Japanese car. #Bayern3Racist #RassismussBeiBayern3 pic.twitter.com/O2iADmPSWg
— Büşra⁷ (@xbusracik) February 26, 2021
As repulsive as this entire situation is, the fact BTS were used as scapegoats is not a new occurrence by any means. BTS are the biggest band in the world. They’ve sold out stadiums all across the globe with ease, and were the first Korean group to headline Wembley Stadium in London. They’ve topped the Billboard 200 chart on multiple occasions, and became the first all South Korean act to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Dynamite.” In November 2020, “Life Goes On” became the first song predominantly sung in Korean to ever top the Billboard Hot 100. BTS and “Dynamite” currently hold a 2021 GRAMMY nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. And while we’re still on the topic of “Dynamite,” the official music video continues to be YouTube’s most viewed video in 24 hours.
But before anyone calls me chart obsessed, BTS’ achievements and influence extend so much further than just their music. They’ve spoken at the UN General Assembly, brought in billions of dollars to the South Korean economy, and delivered a speech and performance at YouTube’s Dear Class Of 2020. One can go on and on, and yet, they are constantly subjected to racist and xenophobic remarks from individuals inside and outside of the music industry. Among ARMY, it leads to larger conversations about the lack of positive Asian representation in mainstream media. Conversations about the way people of color are represented in media in general, pinpointing and attempting to shatter gates that have been keeping people of color from reaching their full potential, and making strides to help shape a better future.
Racism is not an opinion. It has no place in media, especially media funded by a country’s taxpayers. It is incredibly dangerous to uphold it, reduce or dismiss those who speak out against it, and expect it to be “forgiven” like two children who fought over using the swing set on a playground. Matthias Matuschik must be de-platformed, but of course, this would only be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the level of accountability and change needed to be made all across the board.
I have no doubt that the BTS ARMY will continue to lead that change.
