"BTS Cookie 'Death to America' Message? American Anchor's Absurd Remarks Spark 'Racial Discrimination' Suspicions, Fans Outraged [K-EYES]

*This content was translated by AI.

An American local news anchor introducing a limited-edition collaboration cookie between BTS and Oreo made an absurd remark that combining the 13th cookie designs spells out "Death to America," sparking outrage among ARMY fans worldwide.

According to U.S. media outlets TMZ and the New York Post, the controversial remarks were made on the 27th by James Eppler, an anchor at FOX34, a local station in Lubbock, Texas, during the "Good Day Lubbock" segment while introducing the BTS X Oreo limited-edition cookies.

Scheduled for release on June 8, this product is a special cookie featuring the taste of hotteok, a traditional Korean snack, and is characterized by 13 different messages from BTS engraved on each cookie.

During the broadcast, while reporting on the Oreo cookie launch, Eppler stated, "The cookie wafer color is purple, BTS's signature color, and the cream tastes like hotteok, a Korean snack," before suddenly adding, "When you combine the 13th designs engraved on the cookies, the message conveyed to fans is 'Death to America.' I think that's a bit strange."

When co-anchors expressed shock at the unexpected remarks, Eppler laughed and said, "It's a joke," but another anchor pointed out, "Some people may have just tuned in."

Regarding the cookie messages, this was entirely false. Eppler attempted to retract the remarks immediately, but the video had already spread online. As Eppler is also a professor at Texas Tech University, ARMY fans are demanding an official apology and his dismissal from both the broadcasting station and the university. It is reported that Eppler has since set his Instagram account to private.

Fan reactions exploded immediately. @bangswiftt warned, "In the current political climate, if someone misinterprets these words, BTS and fans could become targets. This is too irresponsible." @THEEEhottie stated, "Conservative Americans are unlikely to take 'Death to America' as a light joke. I suspect this was an attempt to incite violence against BTS." @piedparks sharply said, "Jokes pretending to make a North Korea reference or using other insults are simply racial discrimination." @kookyun criticized, "Knowing how minorities are treated in the U.S. today, spreading false information about an Asian boy band on a news broadcast is truly strange." @MinYoongiSwagg7 directly tagged FOX34 and Texas Tech University, urging, "Issue an official apology immediately."

Oreo previously stated on the 27th upon announcing this collaboration that it is a "meaningful collaboration that encapsulates a Korean traditional snack enjoyed by BTS since childhood within an iconic cookie." TMZ and the New York Post requested responses from Eppler's broadcasting station and Texas Tech University, but no answers have been provided yet.

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*This content was translated by AI.