James Corden apologises to BTS fans over 'teenage girls' joke

Albertina Lloyd
LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 29: The Late Late Show with James Corden airing Tuesday, January 28, 2020, with guests Cynthia Erivo, Ashton Kutcher, and BTS. (Photo by Terence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images)
James Corden has said sorry to K-Pop boyband BTS for saying all their fans are 15-year-old girls. (CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images)

James Corden has issued an apology to South Korean boyband BTS and their fans after they took affront to a joke he made about them.

The Late Late Show host incurred the wrath of the BTS Army in September after he cracked a gag about the K-Pop band's performance at the UN General Assembly, saying, "It actually marks the first time that 15-year-old girls everywhere found themselves wishing that they were Secretary General António Guterres.”

BTS have now appeared on Corden's chat show and confronted him about the joke which inferred that all their fans were 15-year-old girls, and also had not interest in global politics.

Lead singer Namjoon said: "It's so good to be back, we're very well. But how about you James - you've been in some hot water with the ARMY. Are you alright?"

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Corden, 43, laughed: "We did two jokes, which I didn't think were in any way offensive to anybody.

"We said it was unusual that you were kicking off the UN Summit with a performance. And we said - and this is where I think it was wrong - we said your fans were 15-year-old girls. Which of course isn't true, because I'm 43-years-old and I consider myself to be one of the biggest BTS fans on planet Earth.

"But I've never been on that side of the ARMY before and Woah!

James Corden revealed he had received death threats from the BTS ARMY. (CBS via Getty Images)
James Corden revealed he had received death threats from the BTS ARMY. (CBS via Getty Images)

"Someone told me that they hope I die today, which did feel extreme in response to what I thought were harmless jokes, which we never wanted to be at anyone's expense.

"I hope you know this - we absolute love you and we love the entire ARMY. I've seen the BTS ARMY when they are at their absolute best, when they are true force for good. They've supported charities that I support and they're e amazing.

"The prospect of doing anything that might have upset them, I didn't enjoy that feeling and I hope they know that."

Namjoon told him: "James it's alright - we appreciate your apology. We just wanted to clear the air."

Corden then asked if he was still 'Papa Mochi' - a nickname given to him by member Jimin during a 2020 episode of Carpool Karaoke.

Jimin told him: "Papa Mochi, I forgive you!"

Members of the South Korean band BTS, from left, J-Hope, Jung Kook, Suga, Jimin, partially obscured, Jin and RM arrive to security check-in at United Nations headquarters, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. BTS have raised $3.6 million and generated millions of tweets during four years of teaming up with the U.N. children's agency to fight violence, abuse and bullying and promote self-esteem in young people, the agency is announcing Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, Pool)
BTS performed at the UN General Assembly in New York in September. (AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The pair embraced and Corden said: "That's such a relief! I thought I'd lost my baby Mochi."

Boyband BTS – comprised of Namjoon, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, V, Jimin and Jungkook – got together in 2010 and started releasing music in 2013.

Read more: 'The Chase's' Anne Hegerty under fire for BTS tweet

They are known for songs such as Boy in Luv, I Need U and Spring Day and are the best-selling artists in South Korean history.

Their success has spread around the world and they have been nominated for Grammy and Brit Awards, as well as nine Billboard Music Awards.

Watch: Why don't Wicked fans want James Corden to be in the film adaptation of the musical?

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