Jimmy Fallon Show Faces Backlash Over BTS Joke
‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ is under fire for a joke perceived as racially insensitive towards the global K-pop group BTS. The incident, involving Seth Herzog, a writer for the show, sparked outrage among fans and prompted an apology from both Herzog and the show’s leadership, according to reports from OSEN on March 25, 2026.
During a pre-show interaction with the audience, Herzog made a joke referencing North Korea while anticipating BTS’s appearance. According to a report by TMZ, Herzog asked if anyone in the audience was from North Korea, a remark immediately met with a negative reaction from those present and widespread condemnation online.
Fans, known as ‘ARMY’, quickly took to social media platforms to express their disappointment, labeling the joke as ignorant and disrespectful to Korean history. Protests demanded a formal apology from ‘The Jimmy Fallon Show.’
Herzog reportedly apologized directly to BTS for the incident. Broadcasting company executives also reportedly reprimanded Herzog and pledged to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Whereas, fan sentiment remains critical, with some expressing concern that BTS continues to be the target of outdated and insensitive humor despite their global success.
BTS is scheduled to appear on ‘The Jimmy Fallon Show’ on March 25th and 26th, for interviews and performances.
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