The South Korean group BTS took the opportunity on Tuesday of an invitation by US President Joe Biden to denounce racism aimed at Asian people, while sparking a certain excitement at the White House.
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“We are devastated by the recent uptick in hate crimes, including hate crimes targeting Asian people,” said Jimin (Park Ji-min), one of the seven artists in the iconic K-Pop group, since the stage of the press room of the White House, absolutely crowded for the occasion.
“There is nothing wrong with being different. Equality begins when we reveal and accept our differences,” said Suga (Min Yoon-gi), another member of the group, whose words, like those of Jimin, have been translated.
The seven young men, in dark suits and ties and white shirts, paraded in front of journalists to make very short statements, before being received by the American president.
The briefing then resumed its usual course, in front of a suddenly reduced audience, with the arrival of an economic adviser to Joe Biden who joked: “I will be able to tell my children that BTS has heated the room for me”.
Joe Biden invited BTS as part of a series of events celebrating the Asian community in the United States and denouncing the racism against it.
The American president wants to discuss with the most influential boy band in the world "the inclusion and representation" of Asian people, but also "the racist crimes and discrimination against Asians, which have become increasingly important subjects in recent years,” according to a White House statement last week.
Their meeting will take place away from the press.
The White House wants to see BTS as "ambassadors of youth who spread a message of hope and optimism" to the world.
The septet has already been invited twice to address the United Nations, in 2018 and 2021, in particular about climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.
It's been a long time since the fame of these seven artists in their twenties has crossed Korean borders to sweep the world, and therefore the United States: three of BTS's songs have appeared at the top of the Billboard, the American chart of the most popular songs.
They posted record annual revenue in 2021 of over $1 billion, driven by online content and album sales.
The communications team of Joe Biden, 79, and the oldest president ever elected in the United States, has launched since his arrival at the White House a massive offensive aimed at young audiences, through collaborations with many stars. and influencers.
We saw at the White House the latest American pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo, or an adored group of teenagers, the Jonas Brothers, who came to record videos with the American president to promote vaccination against Covid-19. 19.
