US news anchor makes 'death to America' quip - then faces major backlash

A news reader from Texas has found himself in hot water over the supposed joke in which he claimed that and advert for Oreos released in collaboration with new South Korean boy band BTS, spelled out Death to America.

Sian Hewitt

17:16, 28 May 2026Updated 17:17, 28 May 2026

[The news man has found himself under pressure after his bizarre comments]

The news man has found himself under pressure after his bizarre comments(Image: Instagram)

A journalist has come under fire for making a tasteless joke about a new boy band on the block. FOX 34 reader James Eppler and his co-anchors were chatting about a new limited-edition cookie during a news segment earlier this week.

But he found himself in hot water over the supposed joke in which he claimed that and advert for Oreos released in collaboration with new South Korean boy band BTS spelled out Death to America.

FOX 34 reader James Eppler and his co-anchors were chatting about the new limited-edition cookie during a news segment earlier this week just before he made the joke.

The famous biscuits being spoken about were new Oreos, with different flavours inside to coincide with the release of a new song by the band BTS.

The cream is supposed to taste like the South Korean treat hotteok, which is a brown sugar-stuffed pancake that some of the band members say they ate as kids, Eppler said.

His colleagues responded saying the flavour sounded tasty and he continued: "That does sound good, right?" before going on: "The cookies wafer is the BTS signature color purple.

"Wafers are also engraved with one of 13 designs, which spell out a message to fans when put together that is Death to America, which I think is really strange.

[The group were discussing a new version of the Oreo]

The group were discussing a new version of the Oreo(Image: bhofack2)

His co-anchors immediately looked uncomfortable before Eppler quickly jumped in, laughing while clarifying: "No, its not."

Somebody could just be tuning in, one co-anchor warned.

Eppler then continued with the segment as normal but the segment did not go unnoticed with viewers, with the comment quickly spreading fury online.

One wrote: "I'm still trying to figure out what is funny here," while another added: "I am so tired man."

Another BTS fan wrote: "What a way to alienate an entire fanbase. You should be ashamed."

Others called for him to be sacked.

You need to train your news anchor better after you [have] fired this one, this was supposed to be a wholesome collaboration between Oreos and BTS, one fan wrote online.

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There is no room for ignorance, xenophobia, prejudice, racism or anything in between in journalism. If James Eppler cannot report news without being unprofessional, he doesnt need a platform, another posted.

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