By Amara Iqbal
MTV received a backlash from BTS fans after they were sorted into a new category for the VMA nominees. The category was created just for K-pop artists, therefore segregating them from other major categories which initiated the hashtag #VMAsracist #VMAsXenophobic.
Fans objected to the category ‘Best K-pop’, saying it was not big enough for them, as in 2018 they had become the second-biggest artist of the year in the US where they outsold their album.
The nominees were broadcasted live from Newark, New Jersey on August 26, just when the BTS hit collaboration with Halsey ‘Boy with Luv’ sold a million sales, which also become the fastest-viewed video on YouTube, racking up 74.6 million views in the first 24 hours. The band have received numerous awards and nominations, such as Top Duo/Group award at the 2019 Billboard Music Award, and not forgetting they also scored their first Grammy nomination in 2019.
However, despite their huge success the band had failed to make the major artist categories for the VMAs but segregated them into one category, which has highlighted and represented K-pop act as niche artists and leaving out the three top categories which are Video, Artist and Song of the Year.
Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande lead with up to 10 nominations each, while Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, 21 Savage, the Jonas Brothers and again Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande are nominated for the Video of the Year award.
Fans have called it a racist move by excluding BTS from competing with Western artists, with hashtags trending on Twitter.
This is not the first time that MTV has segregated international artists, as in 2010 there was ‘Best Latino Artist’ category. MTV has not commented on the BTS claims.
BTS fans call out MTV for being racist by segregating them into one category
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