K-pop girl group Kiss of Life is under fire following a controversial livestream held on 2 April to celebrate member Julie's 25th birthday.The event featured an "old-school hip hop" theme, with members Julie, Natty, Belle, and Haneul donning stereotypical hip-hop attire, including cornrows, oversized chains, and exaggerated accessories.They also used slang accents and adopted controversial nicknames, one of which involved racial and ethnic stereotypes.The stream included lip-syncing to 50 Cent's 'In Da Club' and displaying an image of Black men as style inspiration, leading to accusations of cultural appropriation and racial insensitivity from fans.
“ it was her bday theme” like is the theme for kpop this week just cosplay/stereotype black people? pic.twitter.com/dCH2zWHqZP
— nana❤️🔥 (@luvr8hao) April 2, 2025
The backlash was swift, with many fans expressing disappointment and accusing the group of mocking Black culture.In response, Kiss of Life deleted the original stream and posted a handwritten apology on 5 April , acknowledging the insensitivity of their actions.They emphasized their admiration for hip hop but admitted they took the theme too far.The group pledged to educate themselves, take full responsibility, and demonstrate sincerity through future actions.
Kiof i love you but this is so indefensible 😭 pic.twitter.com/d7Fu7u3TAR
— Mr. Bean (@Mrbean_) April 2, 2025
Despite the controversy, Kiss of Life continues their Asian tour, which runs through 2 May.