BTS Opens Up About Discrimination and Anti-Asian Hate in Statement

From Seventeen

With the rise of Asian hate seen across the country in recent months, K-pop group BTS has spoken out against racial discrimination after the tragic shooting in Atlanta, Georgia that targeted Asian victims last Tuesday.

The Grammy-nominated artists took to Twitter to release a statement regarding their own first-hand experiences with racism and xenophobia.

"We recall moments when we faced discrimination as Asians. We have endured expletives without reason and were mocked for the way we look. We were even asked why Asians spoke in English," the statement read.

Since the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Anti-Asian attacks have been on the rise. Nearly 4,000 incidents have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate in the past year. According to its annual report, Stop AAPI Hate also received more than 500 anti-Asian hate incident reports in the first two months of 2021.

BTS rose to international fame in the late 2010s, and with a platform as large as theirs, they decided to be honest in their account of racial discrimination they've faced.

"We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason," the band said on Twitter.

BTS sent their condolences to the families and victims of AAPI hate crimes, addressing that their own experiences are "inconsequential" compared to the events over the past few weeks. Regardless, they said that "these experiences were enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem."

The band was transparent about taking time to carefully assess the situation before releasing their message. In the end, they made it clear that any racial discrimination should not be tolerated.

"We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence," read the statement. "You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together."

For more information on how to support the AAPI community, visit this link for a list of resources.

You Might Also Like

• How to Master a Pretty Waterfall Braid

• 11 Waterproof Makeup Products You Have to Try

• How To Contour and Highlight Your Face Like A Total Pro