K-pop girl group Kiss of Life apologize for racially insensitive livestream

Okay-pop woman group Kiss of Life consists of (from the left) Belle, Natty, Julie and Haneul. Picture: Kissoflife_S2/X

Okay-Pop Feminine Quartet Kiss of Life has apologized by way of a handwritten be aware for his or her followers, following a controversial dwell broadcast that’s thought-about culturally and racially insensitive.

In a publish of April 6 on their social media accounts, a be aware with 4 paragraphs – every written by one other member – was addressed to their followers, often called Kissys. It said: “We actually wish to sincerely apologize for the uploaded content material that triggered a lot disappointment for our followers.”

The women’ group had celebrated the twenty fifth birthday of Lim Julie with a dwell broadcast on 2 April with what they stated was an “old-school hip-hop” theme get together. The members wore equipment and hairstyles which can be often related to black tradition and rappers, reminiscent of giant golden chains, cornrows and Bantu buttons.

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The published was rapidly criticized by followers, particularly Black Okay-pop followers, who noticed the video mocking black folks and strengthened outdated stereotypes.

Whereas the Kiss or Life S2 leisure label apologized by way of an announcement on 3 April, the ladies straight appealed the controversy by way of the handwritten apology.

The quartet, consisting of Belle, 21, Natty, 22, Julie and Haneul, 19, added within the memorandum: “We had been sorry. Our intention was to point out how a lot we cherished the Previous-College Hiphop as a result of it enormously influences our music.

“Throughout photographing the content material, we introduced the idea too far. We now notice that our content material was culturally insensitive and takes full accountability for our actions and solely promise to do higher.”

They added: “We all know that we can not say something or do it magically will remedy the error now we have made. The one factor we are able to promise is that we proceed to show ourselves and present our sincerity by way of our actions as a substitute of phrases.”

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Kiss of Life has misplaced greater than 200,000 followers on Instagram for the reason that controversy broke out, from 3.7 million to three.5 million followers. Though some followers had the sensation that they didn’t intentionally idiot the black tradition and will not have been conscious of what the black group regards as offensive, others thought that the group – consisting of worldwide members – needs to be extra conscious.

Each Belle and Julie had been born in america and frolicked there; Natty is Thai and Haneul is South Korean.

That is additionally not the primary time that they’re confronted with a recoil for racial insensitivity. Julie apologized in 2023 after an outdated clip of her singing Unusual Clouds (2011) from the American rapper Bob appeared. The track has lyrics that comprise a racial blemish, and Julie used it whereas singing the track.

She then stated in an announcement: “An outdated video surfaced once more wherein I sang the unique texts of a canopy track with out sufficient consideration that contained a sure phrase, which I’m deeply regretted … I’m decided to be extra cautious and meticulous to stop the identical errors sooner or later.”

Kiss of Life, which debuted in 2023, are identified for songs reminiscent of Sticky (2024) and Igloo (2024). They carried out in Singapore in December 2024 on the Yuewen Music Pageant in Sentosa.