Good Morning America was accused of having a disrespectful attitude toward ENHYPEN
In a surprising turn of events, the popular American morning show Good Morning America finds itself in hot water for what many are deeming disrespectful treatment towards the rising K-Pop sensation, ENHYPEN.
Earlier this year, ENHYPEN appeared in Pinkfong film, “Baby Shark’s Big Movie,” where they voiced a K-Pop band. Their involvement also included the release of a track for the film titled “Keep Swimmin’ Through.” Riding on the wave of success, the group was invited to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, showcasing their talent on the Baby Shark float and gaining viral attention for their performance of “Baby Shark.”
Fans were further elated when it was announced that ENHYPEN would grace the stage of Good Morning America, the most-watched morning program in the U.S.
However, the excitement quickly turned to disappointment as multiple instances during the broadcast left fans feeling angered and disheartened.
During an interview segment with ABC’s reporters Juju Chang and Sam Champion, host Juju Chang mispronounced ENHYPEN, calling them “ipen.” Moreover, technical issues arose during the interview, with Jay’s microphone failing to work.
Adding fuel to the fire, Juju Chang, a Korean-American herself, remarked during the interview that the group’s “English is so much better than my Korean.” Such comments have been criticized as microaggressions, subtle forms of unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group, in this case, racial or ethnic minorities.
The mispronunciation continued when Juju Chang incorrectly stated the group’s name once again while introducing their song, this time calling them “enpen.”
Beyond pronunciation issues, poor camera work during the show and misinformation from the Good Morning America X account further fueled the backlash. In a now-deleted post, the account incorrectly referred to the group’s new album as “Orange Blood,” instead of the correct title, “Blood Orange.”
This incident highlights an ongoing concern among K-Pop fans regarding the lack of research and accuracy in Western media coverage of K-Pop groups. Instances of incorrect reporting on basic facts have occurred repeatedly, raising questions about the thoroughness of the preparation undertaken by media outlets.
The comment on Jay and Jake’s English-speaking skills has also sparked a discussion about microaggressions. Jay and Jake, who both grew up in English-speaking countries, have faced implications of racism or ignorance with statements like “your English is so good.”
Fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment and call out Good Morning America for what they perceive as disrespectful treatment of ENHYPEN during their time on the show. The incident has reignited conversations about cultural sensitivity and the need for accurate representation in media coverage of global pop phenomena like K-Pop.
Source: koreaboo
