Netizens express frustration over Seventeen's recent radio program appearance, where the host compared the group to BTS in front of the members

On September 13, radio station SiriusXM Hits 1 aired an interview with Seventeen members DK, Vernon, and Seungkwan, as they talked about expanding their promotions to North America and more. 

The interview has since become a heated topic of discussion online, as many netizens felt that the host made a disrespectful comment.

During the interview, while listing out some of Seventeen's recent achievements in the U.S. market with their album 'Face The Sun', the host nonchalantly remarked, "[When] starting the band, there's no way you would expect that 'Okay, we're gonna be out there just like BTS. We'll be at the same level as BTS'." 

In response, Vernon clarified, "Um, when we debuted, BTS wasn't the BTS today even. Yeah, it's really crazy what we're [all] doing right now. Where we're at right now." 

Many netizens felt that the host's mention of BTS was "disrespectful" and "unnecessary", and criticized the underlying connotations of comparison. On the other hand, netizens commended Vernon for handling the remark "respectfully" and "calmly", while also clarifying misunderstandings about Seventeen's debut time frame in relation to BTS.

You can watch Seventeen's interview clip with SiriusXM Hits 1, below.