BTS donates $1 million to Black Lives Matter
K-pop superstars BTS doubled down on its support of Black Lives Matter, teaming up with their management company, Big Hit Entertainment, for a $1 million donation to the organization.
Kailee Scales, managing director for Black Lives Matter Network Action Fund and Black Lives Matter Global Network, Inc., told Variety, "Black people all over the world are in pain at this moment from the trauma of centuries of oppression. We are moved by the generosity of BTS and allies all over the world who stand in solidarity in the fight for Black lives."
The group’s commitment inspired their loyal fans, the BTS Army, to start a campaign to match the donation.
Last Thursday, the official BTS account posted on social media in both Korean and English, "We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together.#BlackLivesMatter."
Fans of the group were reportedly trolling white supremacist hashtags on Twitter, including #WhiteLivesMatter and #WhiteOutWednesday, the former a reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement and the latter in response to last Tuesday's social media blackout.
The aim was to drown out racist messages with anti-racist ones featuring K-pop memes and videos.
