If you’ve scrolled through Twitter this morning, you may have noticed the hashtag #Channel9Apologize trending at number one.
No, it has nothing to do with Married At First Sight, The Voice or Love Island. It has to do with our very own ’20 to One’. Yes, that show.
The controversy centres around South Korean boy band, BTS, and the comments made by ’20 to One’ host Alex Williamson.
The segment begins with the hosts referring to the chart-topping group as “the biggest boy band you’ve never heard of” and calling them the “South Korean version of One Direction”.
They then go on to question BTS’ legitimacy as artists by claiming that “only one member speaks English”.
Understandably, fans were outraged, calling for Williamson’s sacking from the network.
This video is grossly incorrect and showcases how you shouldn’t be a journalist.
Please do better.
— Luke Waltham (@lukewaltham) June 19, 2019
cut down a significant clip of leader Kim Namjoon speaking at the United Nations to use against us, and many of your ‘interviewers’ spoke with prejudice against them. This is unacceptable. You aired this information about @BTS_twt to the public although none of it was true +
— AUSTRALIA BTS (@australiabts) June 19, 2019
This act of what they said can be considered as extreme defamation and spreading of false info. If you wish, you can report to BigHit here. pic.twitter.com/N9csn8ey82
— AUSTRALIA BTS (@australiabts) June 19, 2019
@20toOne Absolutely disgraceful. Can’t believe in 2019 we still have to tolerate racist xenophobic programs like yours on tv.
— Aurelia💜 (@AureliaOT7) June 19, 2019
부러우면 부럽다고 솔직하게 말해 #channel9apologize #channel9apologizetoBTS@20toOne pic.twitter.com/QTejftcQHp
— 리아 (@_hana_bira) June 19, 2019
Imagine summing this up as being about “hair products” #channel9apologize
pic.twitter.com/D3zT6ml7KT— ♡inactive♡ (@mikrokarishma) June 19, 2019
I didn’t expect to open twt to see THIS and I’m so disgusted like, tf is this. Some pathetic “presenters” who crave attention by causing unnecessary drama and even more pathetic loser who picks on biggest fandoms? Their lives must be so sad#FireAlexWilliamson #Channel9Apologize pic.twitter.com/YqbudhPHIl
— Karolina💜 (@TheGreenFoxxy) June 19, 2019
Gross #Channel9Apologize #BTS #bts #BTSWORLD #BT21 #BTS월드 #BTS6thAnniversary #btsenmonterrey pic.twitter.com/GTTqQsgBOf
— Liliana Wu (@wu_liliana) June 19, 2019
WATCH THE FULL SEGMENT ABOVE!