“Late Late Show” host James Corden made a massive mistake when he called BTS fans, otherwise known as ARMY, “15 year-old girls,” causing fans to tank the Google ratings for his show.
Uh-oh: Corden, 43, known to ARMY as “Papa Mochi,” joked on his Sept. 21 show about BTS making a speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
- The world-renowned K-pop group performed at the U.N. General Assembly in addition to making a speech about the effects of COVID-19 on young people.
- While Corden is known for being a fan of BTS, he called their appearance at the event “unusual,” saying the UN General Assembly “started with some unusual visitors, BTS.”
- The offense didn’t stop there. Corden kept going with his monologue, calling the BTS ARMY one of the “largest armies on planet Earth. Historic moment, it actually marks the first time 15 year-old girls everywhere found themselves wishing that they were Secretary General Antonio Guterres.” The speech was met with laughter from the studio audience.
- Many ARMY members took offense to Corden calling the fans of BTS “15 year-old girls,” as not every fan of BTS are young girls, and people tend to diminish accomplishments from artists with large teenage-girl followings.
- In order to express their disappointment, fans flooded “The Late Late Show” Google ratings with one-star reviews.
Actually I’m still pissed about this. @JKCorden has had BTS on the show several times and said so many nice things about them. He also introduced them in the WSJ Mag Innovator award video, singing their praises, but threw all of it away to use them (and us) for a cheap joke. https://t.co/k96k7hXjq5
— bora 🍃 (slow) (@modooborahae) September 22, 2021
“Fake Love”: While the show removed the offending clip from their social media, fans have tanked the show’s Google ratings from 4.2 stars to 1.2 stars, Cosmopolitan reported.
- In the reviews, ARMY members are writing that they felt betrayed by Corden’s comments. One wrote, “I had been a big fan of the Late Late Show and felt that James Corden actually sincerely supported BTS. After his recent remarks…he has been canceled on my T.V.”
- Others are pointing out that it’s not “unusual” for BTS to speak at the U.N.G.A as this is their third appearance.
- One viewer wrote about the offense that Corden caused for calling BTS fans “15 year-olds,” writing, “generalizing a fanbase as 15 year old girls does nothing but show Corden’s prejudicial stereotypes ingrained in his beliefs. BTS’ demographic include (sic) a wide age range, but with the largest percentage falling in 20-30 year olds.”
- Another viewer wrote about how it doesn’t matter what age they are and that they aren’t a punchline. “Age doesn’t define my judgement, I know what I like and why I like it and I know I deserve a voice. I should be respected and heard. Youth is today, and being 18 doesn’t make my opinion and my vision less than the one from a 54 year old man.”
- Fans have also made their anger known on the social media platform Twitter as well.
Leaving this fandom cz im over 15 #JamesCorden pic.twitter.com/c8gf59iDRv
— Alice Jaehn (@AliceSi67284770) September 22, 2021
really want to show this to that James Corden pic.twitter.com/UG8jtMstUl
— ⟭⟬deanᴱᴺ⁻ is exam (@namjoonie_jake) September 22, 2021
James corden hope you will enjoy this..A heartily gift from 15 year old girls ARMY!!🙂 pic.twitter.com/CRLEIsw5WD
— 뷔.💜 (@Taemieiee) September 22, 2021
I had my doubt ever since James Corden said Dynamite was his favorite 💀pic.twitter.com/gRZD9IvsQ2
— joon’s gf⁷ 🪐 (@ButtercupHobi16) September 22, 2021
A RARE picture of Hobi with James Corden pic.twitter.com/6ckeVBiY38
— Tani⁷🐨🪴🪐 || IA || (@TaniJoonie) September 23, 2021
Featured Image via @legendaryseok