K-Pop Group Kiss of Life Faces Backlash Over Racial Controversy

K-pop girl group Kiss of Life has found itself embroiled in a racial controversy following a live broadcast celebrating member Julie's birthday. During the event on April 2, the group showcased a styling concept inspired by old-school hip-hop, particularly focusing on Black female rappers. This choice has drawn significant criticism from international fans, who accused the group of perpetuating racial stereotypes. Critics pointed out that the group's use of a Black vernacular appeared to be caricatured, and they also took issue with the appropriation of culturally sensitive hairstyles, which were treated as mere accessories. Additionally, the name 'Lil Taco' used in the broadcast was seen as mocking the naming conventions of Black individuals.

This is not the first time Kiss of Life has faced scrutiny regarding racial issues. In the past, member Julie had covered a song containing derogatory remarks about Black individuals during her trainee days, which led to a previous apology from the group. The recurrence of such controversies has heightened the attention surrounding this latest incident.

In response to the backlash, the group's agency, S2 Entertainment, issued an apology via their official social media channels. They acknowledged the use of expressions and styles that align with racial stereotypes in the birthday content, stating, "The content was created with the intention of respecting old-school hip-hop culture. However, we failed to recognize that it could reinforce stereotypes about specific races."

The agency further expressed sincere apologies to anyone who felt uncomfortable due to the content and emphasized that the members are taking the matter seriously. They committed to approaching cultural elements with greater care and respect in the future, and announced plans to delete the related content.

Here is the full statement from Kiss of Life regarding the racial controversy:

"Hello, this is S2 Entertainment. We apologize for using expressions and styles that follow racial stereotypes in the birthday content uploaded on April 2. The content was created based on old-school hip-hop style, and we aimed to express the atmosphere of this culture with respect. However, we did not fully recognize that it could be perceived as reinforcing stereotypes about specific races. We sincerely apologize to everyone who felt discomfort due to this. The members are taking this matter seriously, and we will approach cultural elements with more caution and respect in the future. Accordingly, we plan to delete all related content. We apologize once again to those who were hurt by this. Thank you."