Candidate Biyaruell "I Hate Koreans with Pink Hair"
BTS Fan Club "Please Report Similar Tweets"
Javier Milei (53), a far-right candidate running for president in Argentina, South America, has sparked controversy as his running mate (vice-presidential candidate) was found to have made hateful remarks about BTS in the past.
On the 26th (local time), according to the Argentina BTS fan club (BTS en Argentina), Victoria Villarruel (48), the vice-presidential candidate of the Libertarian Party who is heading to the runoff election on the 19th of next month, posted a tweet in 2020 that appeared to mock BTS.
Argentina far-right presidential candidate Milei's running mate, vice-presidential candidate Victoria Villarruel. Photo by Villarruel SNS
She replied to a tweet from a user mentioning BTS by saying, "BTS sounds like the name of a sexually transmitted disease." Villarruel also tweeted, "I hate Koreans with pink hair." Local BTS fans speculate this was a reference to BTS leader RM.
At the time, some BTS fans protested against this. However, the tweet from three years ago resurfaced again because Villarruel advanced to the runoff election in second place alongside Milei in the presidential election held on the 22nd.
However, Villarruel responded to the controversy by saying, "Sorry that a funny tweet chat from a thousand years ago caused such an outpouring of notifications," showing a dismissive attitude.
In response, BTS fans have raised their voices in criticism. The BTS fan club issued a statement saying, "The message BTS always conveys is respect for oneself and everyone different from oneself," and "We condemn Villarruel's hateful xenophobic remarks (rejecting or hating foreigners or other ethnic groups) directed at BTS."
They added, "Given her recent statements, we do not expect a proper apology from her," and "If similar tweets are found, please do not fall for provocation and report them to ARMY (BTS fan club)."
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