Fans have rushed to defend Jimmy Carr after he was slammed for a joke about the K-pop band BTS.

Carr joked about the group on Australian TV show ’20 to One’, saying: ‘When I first heard something Korean had exploded in America, I got worried. So I guess, it could’ve been worse – but not much worse.’

Followers of the band branded him racist this morning, but Carr’s supporters have taken to Twitter to back the comedian, who is known for his close-to-the-bone jokes. 

One wrote: ‘Oh my God what Jimmy Carr said on that BTS video was f***ing funny. It was a joke! People are so touchy about anything these days just relax it’s like it hurt anyone. That’s just what Jimmy Carr’s humour is like! It’s satire!’ 

And responding to a BTS fan who branded Carr rude, another user tweeted of the joke: ‘It was funny though’, adding: ‘I bet he loves the BTS fans’ reactions too. More material.’ 

Carr appeared on Australian TV show ’20 to One’ in a segment which included several celebrities mocking BTS

‘Literally every sentence said in this video is problematic and is filled with racial undertones and xenophobia’: The 20 to One segment was slammed by K-pop fans on Twitter, eventually attracting global news coverage. Pictured: BTS band members in Las Vegas on May 1, 2019

It comes as the star was slammed for a joke in which he asked: ‘Is a dwarf an abortion that made it?’ The charity founded by Tenable quiz show host Warwick Davis, who has dwarfism, said it was ‘saddened’ by the ‘offensive’ gag.  

The ’20 to One’ appearance sparked an international backlash, becoming a major news story in South Korea overnight. 

Carr’s BTS joke was the subject of news bulletins across South Korea after thousands of fans complained about the ‘xenophobic’ overtones.

The network was also a trending topic on Twitter in Australia and Korea, with the hashtags ‘#channel9apologize’ and ‘#channel9racist’ going viral.  

One BTS fan summarised the outrage by tweeting: ‘Literally every sentence said in this video is problematic and is filled with racial undertones and xenophobia.

‘Dear 20 to One, you should definitely reflect and apologise for this disgusting, misinformed report about BTS.’

‘Apologise to BTS, you coward,’ another person wrote, this time tweeting directly to 20 to One host Erin Molan herself. 

The backlash continues: A segment on Channel Nine’s 20 to One that mocked K-pop band BTS has sparked international outrage, becoming the biggest news story in South Korea overnight. Pictured: 20 to One hosts Erin Molan and Nick Cody

Global headlines: The widespread outrage over the two-minute segment led TV news bulletins across South Korea on Thursday, after thousands of BTS fans flooded Twitter with complaints about the program’s ‘xenophobic’ overtones. Pictured: A JTBC Newsroom broadcast

Outrage: The free-to-air network was a trending topic on Twitter in both Australia and Korea overnight, with the hashtags ‘#channel9apologize’ and ‘#channel9racist’ going viral

Furious: One K-pop fan wrote on Twitter, ‘If your idea of humour is demeaning an artist’s career and ideology by making them look shallow and superficial, while making disgusting and inappropriate comments, then you have failed pathetically. You should be ashamed’

Not backing down: After Nine issued a statement to SBS PopAsia stating that the 20 to One segment ‘did not breach any broadcast regulations’, K-pop fans demanded a ‘proper apology’  

K-pop fans also labelled the network ‘racist’, with the hashtag #Channel9Racist being included in more than 17,400 tweets as of Thursday night.

One person tweeted: ‘If your idea of humour is demeaning an artist’s career and ideology by making them look shallow and superficial, while making disgusting and inappropriate racist comments, then you have failed pathetically. You should be ashamed.’ 

The problematic 20 to One segment had repeatedly mocked BTS, beginning with Erin introducing them as ‘the biggest band you’ve never heard of’ before an awkward reference to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un was made. 

‘Appalled’: Disgusted fans flooded Twitter to slam Channel Nine and 20 to One host Erin Molan after Wednesday night’s broadcast

Getting personal:'Apologise to BTS, you coward,' one BTS supporter wrote, this time tweeting directly to Erin herself

Getting personal: ‘Apologise to BTS, you coward,’ one BTS supporter wrote, this time tweeting directly to Erin herself

Several celebrity guests and comedians then made snarky and disrespectful comments about the band. 

Erin then expressed surprise at the group’s chart-topping success in America, because ‘only one band member actually speaks English’.

Former Australian Idol star Rob Mills also took a swipe at the group’s singing abilities as 20 to One played an out-of-context clip of BTS member Jimin’s voice cracking on stage during a performance.

Comedian Mel Buttle later suggested that BTS should fire four of their seven members, because she felt that there were too many of them.

Erin and co-host Nick Cody took things even further by mocking the group’s work with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

While playing a clip of BTS discussing their philanthropic efforts in a speech to the UN last year, the pair joked that they must have been speaking about ‘hair products’.

Pot calling the kettle black? Former Australian Idol star Rob Mills also took a swipe at the group's singing abilities, before later apologising for his comments on Instagram

Pot calling the kettle black? Former Australian Idol star Rob Mills also took a swipe at the group’s singing abilities, before later apologising for his comments on Instagram

BTS partnered with UNICEF in 2017 to launch a two-year campaign to stop violence against children. So far, the campaign has raised almost AUD$3million. 

Channel Nine defended the segment in a statement to SBS PopAsia on Thursday.

‘As a light-hearted entertainment program, it is our belief that last night’s episode of 20 to One, which highlighted the Greatest Global Crazes, did not breach any broadcast regulations, and was intended to humorously highlight the popularity of the group,’ a spokesperson said.

‘We apologise to any who may have been offended by last night’s episode.’ 

Low blow: The show mocked BTS' philanthropic work with the United Nations, joking that the boys must have been discussing'hair products' while addressing the UN last year

Low blow: The show mocked BTS’ philanthropic work with the United Nations, joking that the boys must have been discussing ‘hair products’ while addressing the UN last year 

That same day, 20 to One issued an apology in both English and Korean via Twitter, which read, ‘We apologise for any disrespect and offence taken’.

But this didn’t stop the swell of anger against the network, with hundreds of BTS fans continuing to demand a public televised apology from Erin and Nick. 

‘Make a public apology on TV,’ one person tweeted, while another added: ‘They did it wrong on TV, so the apology should be on TV too.’

Too little, too late? On Thursday, 20 to One issued an apology in both English and Korean via Twitter, which read,'We apologise for any disrespect and offence taken'

Too little, too late? On Thursday, 20 to One issued an apology in both English and Korean via Twitter, which read, ‘We apologise for any disrespect and offence taken’

'Find better things to worry about': Despite 20 to One apologising for the segment, Erin's Twitter likes suggest she doesn't actually regret her comments

‘Find better things to worry about’: Despite 20 to One apologising for the segment, Erin’s Twitter likes suggest she doesn’t actually regret her comments

Despite 20 to One apologising for the segment, Erin’s Twitter likes suggest she doesn’t actually regret her comments.

One tweet Erin liked read: ‘Look… I’m often the person to point out when people are being racist, particularly against Koreans.

‘But all this ‘outrage’ over last night’s @20toOne episode and people telling @Erin_Molan and Nick Cody to apologise etc. seriously need to find better things to worry about.’ 

Likewise, one of the comedians featured in the segment, radio presenter Tim Blackwell, openly mocked the outrage on Twitter.

He tweeted, ‘Touched a BTSnerve’, sparking a fresh wave of backlash against him. 

In response to Tim’s tweet, a K-pop fan wrote: ‘It’s more than just BTS. You could have substituted any other group and we would still be offended.

‘As an Asian, I’m offended. It’s sad to think in 2019, adults such as yourself have no concept of how hurtful your ‘jokes’ can be.’

No regrets? One of the comedians featured in the segment, radio presenter Tim Blackwell (pictured), openly mocked the outrage on Twitter

No regrets? One of the comedians featured in the segment, radio presenter Tim Blackwell (pictured), openly mocked the outrage on Twitter

Bad move: Tim tweeted,'Touched a BTSnerve', sparking a fresh wave of backlash against him

Bad move: Tim tweeted, ‘Touched a BTSnerve’, sparking a fresh wave of backlash against him

Backtracking: Rob Mills - the singer and actor who ridiculed Jimin's vocal abilities - did issue a sincere apology, however, saying his remarks on 20 to One were unfair

Backtracking: Rob Mills – the singer and actor who ridiculed Jimin’s vocal abilities – did issue a sincere apology, however, saying his remarks on 20 to One were unfair

Rob Mills – the singer and actor who ridiculed Jimin’s vocal abilities in the 20 to One segment – did issue a sincere apology, however.

Who are boy band BTS? 

 The South Korean group have been called ‘the world’s biggest boy band’.

Since their 2013 debut, they’ve sold 38 million equivalent album sales worldwide. 

Three of their albums have reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. 

They’re the first group since The Beatles to earn three number one albums in less than a year on the Billboard charts.

They have over 9 BILLION views on YouTube.  

Their last album, Map of the Soul: Persona, topped Australia’s ARIA chart. 

They’ve won 4 Billboard Music Awards and 1 American Music Award.

They were the most tweeted-about celebrity in the world in 2017 and 2018.

They’ve raised almost AUD$3million with UNICEF to end violence against children. 

 

In a video shared to his Instagram Story on Thursday, Rob acknowledged that his remarks were unfair and ignorant.

‘So I’ve had a chance to look up BTS. And they are incredible singer-songwriters [and] successful,’ he said.

‘They do incredible philanthropy work and charity work and should be applauded.

‘I feel like my words [on 20 to One] may have been taken out of context, guys. 

‘I just had no idea who they were before. But now I know.

‘They’re great, they do incredible work and they have a legion of awesome fans. So, sorry if I offended anybody… keep up the good work, guys.’

Meanwhile, it’s not the first time Channel Nine has been in hot water with K-pop fans.

On Sunday, the network used footage of Korean girl group BLACKPINK’s Sydney concert from the day before in a news story about an unrelated drug bust.

The segment, which aired on Nine News, was about five people who had been arrested on drug supply charges at the I AM HARDSTYLE dance festival, which took place at Olympic Park over the weekend.

Big mistake: On Sunday, Channel Nine used footage from Korean girl group BLACKPINK's recent Sydney concert in a news story about an unrelated drug bust. Pictured: BLACKPINK

Big mistake: On Sunday, Channel Nine used footage from Korean girl group BLACKPINK’s recent Sydney concert in a news story about an unrelated drug bust. Pictured: BLACKPINK

'Poor journalism and lack of integrity': Fans were outraged to see the beloved girl group wrongfully implicated in a drug bust

‘Poor journalism and lack of integrity’: Fans were outraged to see the beloved girl group wrongfully implicated in a drug bust

BLACKPINK’s army of fans took to Twitter to criticise the network for using video of the band’s performance in the news bulletin, labelling it ‘disgraceful’ journalism.

‘Poor journalism and lack of integrity,’ one fan tweeted. ‘What they reported did NOT happen at a BLACKPINK concert.’

‘Using BLACKPINK’s concert video clips saying that people were using drugs, when in fact it was in another stadium with a rave party is disgraceful,’ wrote another.

Warwick Davis’ charity ‘saddened’ by Jimmy Carr saying: ‘Is a dwarf an abortion that made it?’  

The charity set up by TV quiz show host Warwick Davis (pictured) has criticised a Jimmy Carr joke about dwarfism

The charity set up by TV quiz show host Warwick Davis (pictured) has criticised a Jimmy Carr joke about dwarfism 

The controversial comic is currently on tour with his ‘Terribly Funny’ show which critics claim contained the gag.

Charity Little People UK – co founded by actor Warwick Davis and his wife Samantha – has slammed the comic and contacted Carr and his agents to complain.

The charity, which support people with dwarfism, said it took action after staff received messages from people with the condition who were offended by the jibe.

In a statement, it said: ‘We are saddened that in 2019 we have to deal with such prejudice to the dwarfism community – and other minority groups – in a time where we all strive to live equal lives and celebrate diversity without fear of humiliation or preconception.

‘Comments such as this are offensive to people with dwarfism and are incredibly detrimental to their wellbeing.

‘People with dwarfism simply want to live their lives just like everyone else; going to school, shopping, walking down the street and going to work, sometimes in highly respected professions.

‘To potentially hear a member of the public repeat such a comment, after seeing a stand up show, can affect them for their entire life.

‘This causes unnecessary distress and anxiety through no fault of the person with dwarfism, simply because they have a genetic difference.

‘Additionally, we consider the parents of people with dwarfism – with 80 per cent of people with dwarfism born to average height parents as the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation. Anyone can have a child with dwarfism.

‘For parents, particularly new parents, to hear such jokes about their child can have long lasting effects.

‘We strongly urge reconsideration of using people with dwarfism as the subject of jokes.

‘We appreciate comedy is a matter of person opinion, however in 2019, people with dwarfism should not have to live with the consequences of being the subject of someone else’s humour.’

The joke has divided social media, with some Twitter users taking offence at the joke – while others thought it was funny.

One said: ‘I’ve only ever seen @jimmycarr on TV and hadn’t realised his humour was so smutty and demeaning. Note to self: Don’t ever go to one of his shows. (What he said about dwarfs is disgusting. I’m sorry you had to hear that!)’.

@samcarlisle tweeted: ‘Is a dwarf an abortion that made it?’ I challenge Jimmy Carr to come to my home and say that to my daughter’s face.’

Little People UK was co-founded in 2012 by Warwick Davis, his wife Samantha and others.

The actor is the president and patron and his wife is the chair of the charity’s committee, which also includes their daughter Annabelle.

Jimmy Carr could face sanctions for making a joke about dwarves during an appearance on BBC1’s The One Show.

In 2015 Ofcom launched an investigation into Carr’s comments about dwarfs made on the One Show.

‘I tried to write the shortest joke possible,’ he said. ‘So, I wrote a two-word joke which was: ‘Dwarf shortage’. It’s just so I could pack more jokes into the show.’

Jimmy Carr has been contacted for comment.