BTS and President Joe Biden.Photo: The White House
BTSare using their global influence for good.
The South Korean pop superstars made an official visit to the White House on Tuesday, and met with President Biden for more than half an hour to discuss the recent rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, as well as Asian inclusion and diversity.
Jungkook, V, Jimin, Suga, Jin, RM and J-Hope spoke with Biden in the Oval Office for 35 minutes, and thanked him for signing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law.
“We just want to be a little help and we truly appreciate the White House and government’s [efforts] trying to find solutions,” the group told him.
Biden, who gave the “Butter” singers commemorative coins as gifts, emphasized a need for open discussion on important issues.
“Hate only hides. When good people talk about it and say how bad it is, it goes down,” he said. “People care a lot about what you say, and what you are doing is good for all people. It’s not just your talent. It’s the message you are communicating. It matters.”
BTS.BIGHIT MUSIC
Jean-Pierre called the Grammy nominees, who wore matching black suits for the occasion, “youth ambassadors promoting a message of respect and positivity,” and said they would sit down with Biden in a meeting closed to the press after the briefing.
RM spoke first and introduced the group in English, calling their invitation to Washington, D.C. a “great honor.”
BTS.Kevin Dietsch/Getty
“We believe music is always an amazing and wonderful unifier of all things. It’s not wrong to be different. We think equality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences,” they said. “Everyone has their own history. We hope today is one step forward to respecting and understanding each and every one as a valuable person.”
BTS.Susan Walsh/AP Photo
BTS is currently gearing up for the release of theirnew anthology albumProof, which will drop on June 10.
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Marking a celebration of their nine-year anniversary as a band,Proofwill feature three brand-new songs including “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” amid a career-spanning collection of tracks.
Proofwill mark BTS' first record since their 2020 LPBe. They previously dropped a compilation album,BTS, the Best, in June 2021 and an EP,Butter (Hotter, Sweeter, Cooler), that same month.
source: people.com
