Fans are demanding an apology be made.
Koreaboo
1 hour ago
A news host is currently being criticized over a comment made about BTS.
BTS | Rolling Stone
In mid-May, an American fan reported seeing BTS Oreos at her local store, which was later confirmed to be an official collaboration. The limited Oreos X BTS collaboration cookies will be released on June 8 and feature messages from the group along with a special hotteok flavor.
The collaboration is major, so it is not surprising that it has made news both online and in more traditional formats.
However, one broadcast is currently gaining attention for a host’s extra remarks about BTS.
FOX34, a local FOX-affiliated station in Lubbock, Texas, covered the collaboration as part of its trending news stories. The coverage of the collab was typical up until the end, when one of the hosts, after mentioning there were 13 messages on the Oreos, said they spelled out “Death To America” as a “joke.”
? what about this is funny im so tired pic.twitter.com/xYGFMlasvS
— ِ (@kitteewhysker) May 27, 2026
The phrase has been used by countries as a protest against American imperialism, but is most commonly connected to extremist terrorist groups. North Korea has also used a similar phrasing in the past.
Fans have called out the comment as racist, demanding that action be taken regarding the remarks. There have also been calls for the host, identified as James Eppler, who is also a professor at Texas Tech University, to be fired.
Spreading misinformation about an asian boyband on a news show knowing damn well how America is treating minorities right now is really weird https://t.co/XHWeFMkTrM
— kat (@kookyun) May 27, 2026
these types of jokes of acting like they are saying something else that’s offensive and the “north korea” jokes are just straight up racist im over it https://t.co/CTgXMjF0rt
— َ (@piedparks) May 27, 2026
Fuck ass bitches ts was not funny it was honestly disrespectful asf. He needs to be fired immediately.!!! https://t.co/t7efvPqoKo
— Ja’Kiyah Chanel ⁷🦋 (@jakiyahchan3l) May 27, 2026
@Oreo please be aware that @fox34 used your bts oreo collaboration as the setup for a “d34th to america” joke. this is blatant racism and xenophobia toward asian artists, using your campaign to amplify harmful rhetoric for a cheap punchline. i hope you can press for… https://t.co/9XLTDWTDMB
— mona lina⁷๋࣭ ✴︎˚｡⋆ (@y00ngipurrs) May 27, 2026