A Mexican television broadcast has come under fire after panelists made disparaging remarks about BTS and their fanbase, known as ARMY.
On February 5, Mexico’s Multimedios Channel 6 shared a clip from its entertainment program Chismorreo on social media. The segment addressed the controversy surrounding the fairness of ticket sales for BTS’s upcoming concert in Mexico City.
Panelist Luisa Fernanda commented, “Even Colombian superstar Shakira’s concert sold out,” adding that while fans feel exploited by high ticket prices, “this is the level of judgment the fandom has,” criticizing fans’ spending behavior.
Another panelist, Fabian Lavalle, reacted to footage of BTS by saying, “This is no time to cry over some unknown singer’s concert. If it were my daughter, I would have told her to do her homework instead.”
The host attempted to defuse the situation by noting, “For many children, seeing BTS is a dream.” However, Fernanda continued her remarks, saying, “Half of the fans probably didn’t even finish elementary school,” further fueling criticism.
BTS is scheduled to hold concerts on May 7 and May 9–10 at GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City as part of their world tour ‘ARIRANG.’ The venue has a capacity of approximately 65,000.
Previously, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed during a local press conference that she had sent a letter to President Lee Jae Myung requesting additional dates for BTS’s Mexico concerts.
“BTS is extremely popular among young people in Mexico,” she said. “Around one million people want to buy tickets, but only about 150,000 tickets are available.” She added that she would disclose the response once it arrives, expressing hope that if additional shows are not possible, large outdoor screens could be installed so more citizens can enjoy the performance.
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