Boy Band BTS Becomes First K-POP Band to Win a Billboard Music Award Ever But Not Everyone Was Happy [VIDEO]
Korean pop band BTS made history Sunday night at the Billboard Music Awards when they became the first K-pop group to win a Billboard, setting off perhaps one of the loudest screams from the audience at the show and beating out U.S. pop favorites Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes.
The seven-member boy band won the Top Social Artist award at the ceremony in the T-Mobile Arena in downtown Las Vegas. The category was voted by fans and BTS’ “Army” (how the band’s fans are known”) reportedly shared the #BTSBBMAS more than 300 million times.
"We still cannot believe that we're standing here on this stage at the Billboard Music Awards," said BTS member Kim Nam-joon. "It is so great to see all the artists we admire, and we feel honored to be in this category with all these great artists right in front of us."
The South Korean band got their name from the acronym “Bangtan Sonyeondan” a Korean term that translates into “bulletproof boy scouts.” They debuted in 2013 and are known for having a hip-hop/R&B/electronic fusion in their music.
The news did not only disappoint Justin Bieber or Selena Gomez fans. But surprisingly, their win triggered what look like racial comments from viewers. Some viewers turned to social media to show their disdain for the band.
“Who are these Asian,” some viewers posted on Twitter and labeled their haircuts as “bowl cuts.”
"Not trying to be racist, but you don't see any American singer or band participating in a Korean award show so, like, BTS please just go back to Korea," one person wrote.
BTS fans in response raved about the band and acknowledged they worked hard to be successful.
”Yea this is why we need asian representation here, people aren't used to seeing talented asians succeed in the music industry,” one viewer said.
