Yahoo News Jimmy Carr sparks backlash with 'racist' joke about K-pop band BTS
Just days after Channel 4 bosses were urged to sack Jimmy Carr for taking a swipe at those with dwarfism during his stand-up tour, the comedian is facing further criticism for a “racist” joke he made about K-pop band BTS.
“When I first heard something Korean had exploded in America, I got worried,” Carr teased, appearing on Australian TV Show 20 to One.
Read more: Warwick Davis' charity slams Jimmy Carr for dwarf abortion joke
“So I guess, it could've been worse - but not much worse,” he continued, as a he watched a clip of the group performing.
Viewers and thousands of Bangtan Boys fans - dubbed ‘the BTS Army’ - took to social media to slam the 8 Out of 10 Cats presenter, describing the comment as “xenophobic.”
“If your idea of humour is demeaning an artist's career and ideology by making them look shallow and superficial, while making disgusting and inappropriate racist comments, then you have failed pathetically,” one Twitter user wrote. “You should be ashamed.'
Another said: "Literally every sentence said in this video is problematic and is filled with racial undertones and xenophobia."
@Channel9 If your idea of humour is demeaning an artist career and ideology by making them look shallow and superficial while making disgusting and inappropriate racist comments - then you have failed pathetically.
You should be ashamed. #Channel9Apologise #channel9racist pic.twitter.com/l72MKFTPfE— Shivani Shintre (@ShivaniShintre) June 20, 2019
Another took a swipe at his comedic style in general, tweeting: “I’m not surprised by Jimmy Carr’s comments on BTS. His stand-up show I caught on TV mostly involved jokes about women being in the kitchen.
“I watched for a whole 30 seconds before I decided it wasn’t worth losing brain cells over.”
Responding to the backlash, Australian network Channel Nine defended Carr in a statement. It read: "As a light-hearted entertainment program, it is our belief that last night's episode of 20 to One, which highlighted the Greatest Global Crazes, did not breach any broadcast regulations.
Read more: K-pop stars BTS make history as first Korean group to play at Wembley
“It was intended to humorously highlight the popularity of the group. We apologise to any who may have been offended by last night's episode."
During a performance of his Terribly Funny live tour, Carr joked, “Is a dwarf an abortion that made it?”
It prompted several complaints, including one from actor-turned-television presenter Warwick Davis and his charity, Little People UK.
