The members of the K-pop group Kiss of Life have issued a public apology following criticism over a recent livestream that many fans labeled as culturally insensitive.
On April 2, group members Julie, Natty, Belle, and Haneul celebrated Julie’s 25th birthday with a themed YouTube livestream inspired by “old-school hip-hop.” However, the group’s choice of clothing and behavior during the stream quickly sparked outrage. Viewers accused the idols of appropriating and mocking Black culture.
In the livestream, which has since been taken down but reuploaded by fans, the four singers appeared wearing oversized chains, snapback hats, cornrows, and large hoop earrings. They also used nicknames and exaggerated accents that some fans believed played into harmful stereotypes. Belle appeared as “Lil Taco Belle” wearing makeup tied to Latina stereotypes, while Natty and Haneul used the names NT and Bob Sky, respectively.
The group also lip-synced to 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” and displayed a photo of three Black men as style inspiration. These elements led many online to condemn the video as tone-deaf and offensive. One viral post on X (formerly Twitter) read, “I’m sorry, Kiss of Life are neither uneducated nor ignorant. They knew exactly what they were doing and just didn’t care.”
Another fan described the broadcast as “modern-day blackface and cultural mockery,” adding, “Dressing up as Black people like we’re Halloween costumes, while indulging in exaggerated stereotypes? This wasn’t accidental. They planned this.”
In response to the criticism, Kiss of Life shared a handwritten letter addressed to their fans, known as “Kissys,” on April 5 via social media. The group expressed deep regret for their actions.
“We sincerely apologize for the content that caused disappointment to our fans,” they wrote. “Even though we appear calm on the outside, this has been a very difficult time for us. We should have spoken up sooner, but we’re taking this opportunity to address everything now.”
The members explained that the livestream was meant as a tribute to the old-school hip-hop style they admire, but they acknowledged they went too far. “We are sorry,” the statement continued. “Our intention was to show our love for old school hip hop, which has influenced our music. But we now understand that the way we presented the concept was culturally insensitive. We take full responsibility and promise to do better.”
Kiss of Life also stated they had spent the days following the livestream reflecting on the incident and educating themselves on the impact of their choices.
“We know words alone can’t undo the harm we’ve caused,” they added. “All we can do is continue learning and prove our sincerity through our actions. We truly regret our choices and are sorry for the hurt we’ve caused. This has been a valuable learning experience.”
The group concluded their statement by thanking their fans for their continued support, promising to honor them more thoughtfully in the future.
Kiss of Life is currently continuing their Asian tour, with performances scheduled through May 2.
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