3 Reasons Why Jimmy Kimmel & Billboard Are Under MASSIVE Fire for Ashley Park BTS Cover Performance Interview

American television host, comedian, and writer-producer Jimmy Kimmel and global magazine Billboard have been under MASSIVE fire because of his interview with Ashley Park about her BTS cover performance. So why and what does Billboard have to do with it? Check out the reasons below.

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Jimmy Kimmel and Billboard are Under MASSIVE Fire for His Interview About Ashley Park BTS Cover Performance

Being of Korean descent and a proud ARMY, Ashley Park felt ecstatic for having two of BTS members, V and RM, notice her “Dynamite” cover performance in “Emily in Paris”, and she expressed this during her interview with Jimmy Kimmel. However, Jimmy Kimmel and Billboard magazine’s reactions have brought them under MASSIVE fire from Kpop fans and the general public.

On January 21, Jimmy Kimmel posted a video of his interview with Ashley Park about her BTS cover performance. However, during the show, Jimmy Kimmel has made several comments that have triggered the anger of many Kpop fans and the general public.

Ashley Park talked about her BTS cover performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. | Twitter

3 Reasons Why Fans Criticize Jimmy Kimmel for His Insulting and Racist Comments during the Show

Furthermore, during the interview, Ashley Park seems to be having fun by delivering her answers excitedly, especially when it comes to BTS and her “Dynamite” cover performance. However, the comments and feedback that came from the host, Jimmy Kimmel, have triggered the general public’s anger and disappointment. Therefore, Jimmy Kimmel is now under MASSIVE fire because of his insulting and racist comments.

Ashley Park on Jimmy Kimmel Live. | Twitter

Here are the 3 reasons why Jimmy Kimmel has disappointed many fans during his interview with Ashley Park on her BTS cover performance.

A Sarcastic Joke Mocking ARMY Being Crazy about BTS

Firstly, when Jimmy Kimmel started his interview with Ashley Park, he asked about her cover performance of a BTS song, “Dynamite”. Furthermore, he also wondered about the fallout that came with the performance because, in his experience, it was huge.

However, within the question, Jimmy Kimmel delivered a sarcastic joke that people think he was mocking ARMY for being crazy about BTS.

“You sang a BTS song on the show, and I wonder what the—like—fallout from something like that is.
Because I know that, we’ve had BTS on our show, and people—their fans—they will camp out. They’re probably still out in the parking lot, waiting for the next time they come on.
They are absolutely crazed for these guys, and—”
Jimmy Kimmel.

Ohkay now @jimmykimmel made fun of BTS and army…
Like what’s wrong with u people??
Why can’t u just stop being pathetic like for real?
Saying both BTS and covid are dangerous and making worthless comments about armys??
It’s not a joke, u people are jokers actually. pic.twitter.com/m1kpNZ68hM
— Sugacubes🌼⁷💜sugar (@im_Meowgi) January 21, 2022

Jimmy Kimmel Sarcastically Mentioned that ARMY is Dangerous

When Jimmy Kimmel mentioned the fans, Ashley Park clarified and mentioned ARMY’s name. And that was when Jimmy Kimmel sarcastically commented that ARMY was dangerous.

“Yeah! You have to be careful with an ARMY because they could attack.”
Jimmy Kimmel.

But when Ashley Park shut down his comment by revealing that she was—in fact—an ARMY herself, Jimmy Kimmel stated that she would be safe because she was part of the ARMY.

“Oh, so you’re part of the ARMY? Okay, then you won’t get attacked”
Jimmy Kimmel.

“They’re probably still out in the parking lot?!?!”
“You have to be careful with an ARMY because they can ATTACK” ???
“Oh okay then you won’t get attacked”?!?
WHAT THE FUCK @jimmykimmel @JimmyKimmelLive pic.twitter.com/L4uQtQYvUl
— xiv⁷ (@soorooroop_) January 21, 2022

Comparing BTS to COVID Despite the Existing Hate Crime Against Asian

After that, Ashley Park excitedly fangirling over BTS, explaining long story of how she was highly ecstatic about BTS RM and V noticing her.

She believed it was a huge miracle because “Dynamite” was a cover performance she had been dreaming and she wanted to do them proud. But then, just when she thought she was in a deep fangirling hole about BTS that her body started feeling weak, it turned out that the symptoms were because she was suffering from Omicron COVID-19.

And this is where the main issue started.

Jimmy Kimmel referred to Ashley’s fangirling experience as BTS Fever. Then, without a pause, Jimmy Kimmel said that Ashley was lucky to survive those (BTS Fever and COVID) because both of them were very dangerous.

“They’re both very dangerous. You’re lucky to come out of those alive.”
Jimmy Kimmel.

“You thought it was BTS fever. They’re both very dangerous. You’re lucky to come out both of those alive.”

The audacity to say that about an Asian artist in front of an Asian woman. @jimmykimmel really compared BTS to COVID in the year 2022 and amidst all the anti-Asian hate. + pic.twitter.com/fTvSSIgcsC
— bora ✨✨ (@modooborahae) January 21, 2022

Why Was It Such a Big Issue?

Due to these insulting comments, many fans started criticizing Jimmy Kimmel. They believe that even when he was only joking, Jimmy Kimmel’s comments were highly inappropriate.

As we all know, since the COVID-19 pandemic first started, many Asian people have suffered from blame and discrimination. That’s why the general public criticized Jimmy Kimmel for making a joke about a Korean group in front of a Korean-American woman.

At this point @Billboard, @jimmykimmel, @JimmyKimmelLive owe an apology to Ashley Park, BTS, & Asian communities around the world. The “joke” was not funny and was, in fact, vile, racist trash. Racism is not humor. Not even24hrs later, we can see where racist jokes lead:
— Black Swan ℗ ⁷ (@BlackSwan_875) January 22, 2022

What happened with @JimmyKimmelLive / @billboard / @ashleyparklady cannot be ignored. This mindset is EXACTLY what leads to serious hate crimes against Asian communities, including murder. BTS tweeted this March 29, 2021 joining the effort to #StopAsianHate #StopAsianHateCrimes pic.twitter.com/iN5NhPPIdc
— 👉💜👈ᵀᴹ 💜⁷ (@itsMINGUKnow) January 22, 2022

.@jimmykimmel , being a host means you have responsibility to make audience feel ‘homy’ at your show. Comparing BTS with a virus that causing pandemic and telling people to be careful with their fans (bcs ‘they can attack’) is not what a good host will do@JimmyKimmelLive https://t.co/z6Dt9hifOU
— Nana⁷ 💜 (@nanamjooniest) January 21, 2022

What Does Billboard Have to do about Jimmy Kimmel and Ashley Park Interview?

On top of everything, the public became even more appalled when Billboard posted a twisted article about the interview. According to Billboard, it’s Ashley Park who said that her COVID-19 symptoms are “eerily” similar to of interacting with BTS.

so jimmy kimmel was racist towards bts (an asian group) on national television but billboard decided to make an article and headline putting a white man’s racist remarks and comments on an Asian woman trying to paint her as racist to her own race. wow just WOW pic.twitter.com/XnH5pjnZSj
— funky little popstar (@hrIykoo) January 22, 2022

Billboard continues to feed and fuel and cause the racism within the music industry. They make statements like these, yet we still allow them relevance. They owe bts, Ashley Park, and all Asians a fucking apology https://t.co/NEiqM7giLj
— ᴮᴱinvierno kitty.⁷☃️ (@ktbeast8) January 22, 2022

I feel so bad for Ashley Park. She went on to talk about her show and not only did Jimmy Kimmel fuck it up, Billboard attributed what he said to her. Rania Aniftos, her editor and @billboard better apologize to Ashley and BTS. pic.twitter.com/crWYnOyFw6
— bora ✨✨ (@modooborahae) January 22, 2022

Billboard has now deleted both the Twitter post and the article, but fans still keep them available on social media.

It is slightly ironic because on the other hand, Ashley Park felt she had absolute fun during Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Absolute best time at @JimmyKimmelLive 🖤 tune in tonight!! pic.twitter.com/vgygTYZ4KH
— Ashley Park (@ashleyparklady) January 21, 2022

Ashley Park Full Interview about Her BTS Cover Performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live

So, what do you think, Kpop fans? Did Jimmy Kimmel’s comments really were inappropriate, or do you think that it was just fine? Feel free to share your comments below, and here’s the full interview of Ashley Park about her BTS cover performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.