Overview
- James Eppler, a FOX 34 Good Day Lubbock anchor who also teaches at Texas Tech, joked on air that the embossed wafers on the limited‑edition BTS x OREO cookies spelled “Death to America.”
- Eppler immediately tried to walk the remark back during the lighthearted product segment, but video clips circulated online and viewers reacted strongly.
- BTS fans mobilized on social media calling for an apology and for Eppler to be fired, driving the story into wider coverage across national outlets.
- As of the latest reports, Eppler has not issued a public apology and neither FOX 34 nor Texas Tech had responded to media requests for comment.
- The remark occurred during promotion of a confirmed OREO x BTS release that is scheduled for June 8 and features purple wafers with 13 different embossments and a hotteok‑inspired filling, which frames the comment as out of step with the product's cultural context.