VIDEO Brazilian TV host mocks K-pop band with 'slit eyes'

Raul Gil, host of “Turma Do Vovo Raul” on SBT, makes slit eyes at the audience with K-pop band KARD and an interpreter behind him. / Screen capture from YouTube

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By Ko Dong-hwan

Fans of a rookie K-pop band have criticized a Brazilian TV show host for disrespecting them on his program by making a “joke” derogatory to Asians.

Raul Gil, host of musical and variety TV show “Turma Do Vovo Raul” broadcast on SBT, angered fans after four-member band KARD were guests on the show on July 15.

The joke was sparked after Gil asked the DSP Media band that debuted this month if there was a romantic relationship among the band of two men and two women. They all said no, which drew shouts from the excited audience.

The host then jokingly asked the crowd whether they would marry the Koreans, adding, “Your eyes will become smaller if you date these Koreans,” making slit eyes with his both hands.

The gesture, notorious among Asian communities, has been used by non-Asians to make fun of Asians’ comparatively small eyes.

The on-stage interpreter did not pass on the joke ― in Portuguese ―to the band.

On the show, Gil made another racially sensitive joke to a Japanese youngster who performed with the band, saying he “had better open his eyes.”

Angry fans said online that Gil must apologize to the band. They added when he made the remarks with the Koreans right behind him, it was “obviously a racist joke.”

“The host must apologize to the musicians who flew a long way to get there,” a netizen said.