KISS OF LIFE Withdraws From KCON LA Following Racism Controversy; Korean Netizens Share Mixed Reactions

K-pop girl group KISS OF LIFE has officially withdrawn from the KCON LA 2025 lineup after facing intense backlash over a racially insensitive livestream. The group’s agency, S2 Entertainment, confirmed the decision on May 16, following weeks of criticism from international fans.

The controversy began in April 2025 when the group livestreamed a birthday celebration for member Julie with an “old-school hip-hop” theme. During the broadcast, the members wore cornrows, gold chains, and Bantu knots—hairstyles deeply rooted in Black culture. They also imitated African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and exaggerated stereotypical mannerisms, which many viewers called “modern-day blackface.”

“What Kiss of Life did is modern-day blackface and cultural mockery. Dressing up as Black people like we’re Halloween costumes, while indulging in exaggerated stereotypes? This wasn’t accidental. They sat down, planned this, and got dressed.” — A fan on X (formerly Twitter).

The agency quickly deleted the video and issued an apology, stating they would be more careful with cultural references. The members also shared handwritten apologies, admitting their actions were insensitive. However, many fans felt the apologies were vague and did not directly address the Black community.

K-Netizens React to the Withdrawal

Korean netizens had mixed reactions to the group’s removal from KCON LA. Some agreed with the decision, while others felt the punishment was too harsh.

“Wow, I guess KIOF fell hard after that controversy.”
“It’s the right of the fans to not accept your apology.”
“There are 2 Americans in that group, right? If you don’t have respect for your own culture, I don’t have respect for you.”
“I think to Americans, racism is as serious an issue over there as school bullying is in Korea.”

Some netizens pointed out that the group had previously faced criticism when Julie, a Hawaiian-born member, was caught saying the N-word in a resurfaced trainee video. This added fuel to the fire, with many fans accusing the group of repeated cultural insensitivity.

Industry Experts Weigh In

Music critic Lee Hee-yun noted that K-pop agencies have been dealing with similar controversies for years.

“K-pop has been going global since the early 2010s, and these controversies have occurred regularly since then—often at least once a year. Given the history, most agencies have become more cautious, so for something like this to happen again points to a clear lack of attention.”

Professor Grace Kao from Yale University called the incident a case of cultural appropriation.

“Cultural appropriation has to do with members of the majority group taking cultural aspects from a minority group and using it in a disrespectful manner. I think this is a simple example of mocking or a parody of a stereotype. Not a good look for anyone.”

Fallout and Future Impact

The group lost 200,000 Instagram followers after the incident, and their participation in KCON LA was canceled. Some fans worry this could permanently damage their career, especially in Western markets.

“The way they handled it was just pitiful… I don’t know if they can recover from this.” — A Korean netizen.

K-pop has faced multiple cultural appropriation scandals in the past, involving groups like BLACKPINK, BTS, and Mamamoo. While some idols have learned from past mistakes, others continue to face backlash for similar issues.

Also Read: KISS OF LIFE Faces Heavy Criticism Again After KCON Announcement Brings Back Racism Controversy

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