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Tonight Show Warm-Up Apologizes to BTS After North Korea Joke During Taping

Fan pushback over the remark tests NBC’s response on cultural sensitivity during the group’s high‑profile comeback.

Overview

  • Seth Herzog, who made a North Korea quip during The Tonight Show’s BTS taping Wednesday, apologized to the group according to multiple reports.
  • Sources cited by TMZ say NBC producers spoke with Herzog, and LateNighter reports he did not return for the later in‑studio taping, where Ryan Reiss handled warm‑up.
  • ARMY flooded social platforms with calls for accountability, while some attendees said the on‑location setup felt mishandled with long waits, phone confiscations, and split viewing groups.
  • The episode featured a studio interview and a Guggenheim‑filmed performance of “Swim,” marking BTS’s first U.S. late‑night group appearance since completing military service as they promote Arirang.
  • The incident lands during a tightly planned rollout that includes a Netflix‑streamed Seoul concert, a documentary set for March 27, and an April world tour, with fans stressing that North–South references carry real historical weight for Korean artists.