Kiss of Life Issues Apology Over Racism Controversy

On April 6, 2025, the K-pop group Kiss of Life publicly apologized once again regarding a racism controversy. The group shared handwritten letters from each of the four members on their official account, written in English. In the letters, they expressed, "We sincerely apologize for uploading content that has caused great disappointment. We should have addressed this sooner, and we are sorry for not doing so earlier."

They explained that the controversial live broadcast was intended to showcase their love for old-school hip-hop, but they have now come to realize that the content was culturally sensitive. Reflecting on the criticism regarding racism, they stated, "We have taken time over the past few days to reflect on our actions."

The members emphasized their commitment to learning and demonstrating sincerity through their actions moving forward. They expressed regret over their choices, stating, "We deeply apologize for the pain and discomfort we have caused our fans. This incident has been a valuable learning opportunity for us, and we cherish your support. We will strive to respect and repay you in the future."

Previously, during a live broadcast celebrating member Julie's birthday on April 2, the group adopted an old-school hip-hop style, which led to accusations of mimicking Black speech and hairstyles, sparking the controversy. In response, their agency, S2 Entertainment, issued a statement on April 3, apologizing for using expressions and styles that perpetuated stereotypes of a specific race. They acknowledged that the content, based on old-school hip-hop, inadvertently reinforced racial stereotypes, which they failed to recognize at the time.