German radio DJ under fire after alleged racist remarks comparing BTS to COVID-19

German radio DJ Matthias Matuschik is under fire after his alleged racist remarks about BTS.

The Bayern 3 network presenter's statements about the K-pop group included comments about COVID-19 and North Korea, and it's now gone viral on Twitter. Matthias Matuschik stated BTS are just as awful as the COVID-19 and remarked that he hopes a vaccine will be created for them soon. He also disapproved of the group's 'MTV Unplugged' cover of Coldplay's "Fix You", which the band themselves praised in a tweet. Matuschik stated:

"Nothing against South Korea. You can't accuse me of xenophobia just because this boy band from South - I have a car from South Korea. I have the coolest car ever. I drive a South Korean car with a six-cylinder, twin-turbocharger, four-wheel drive, all the bells and whistles and a top speed of 270. Korea rules, well, South Korea. But BTS, and BTS, yes, they actually have an 'MTV Unplugged' now - with a boy band, 'Unplugged'! That alone is paradoxical! Yes? And then these... these little f***wits brag about the fact that they covered 'Fix You' from Coldplay, where I say: 'This is blasphemy!' And that's what I say as an atheist! This is... this is sacrilege, for this you will... for this you will be vacationing in North Korea for the next 20 years!"

Though Bayern 3 did issue an apology, it worsened sentiment among fans. The network wrote, "Matuschik wasn't trying to be offensive, he was just clowning around." The DJ himself has yet to respond to the issue.

Many netizens are expressing the DJ's comments are inexcusable as anti-Asian violence surges globally amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. BTS fans have also taken to Twitter to reply to Sony Music and Columbia Records' stance condemning racism against the Asian community.

What are your thoughts on the situation?