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Kiss of Life under fire for alleged cultural appropriation during livestream
Members of K-pop girl group Kiss of Life, from left, Belle, Natty, Julie and Haneul, pose during Julie's controversial livestream allegedly involving cultural appropriation. Captured from Kiss of Life's official X account
By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop girl group Kiss of Life is facing backlash over a recent livestream that some say perpetuated racial stereotypes, reigniting scrutiny over member Julie's past use of a racial slur.
The four-member group hosted the livestream Wednesday to celebrate Julie's birthday, adopting an "old-school hip-hop" theme at her request.
During the broadcast, members appeared wearing cornrows, Bantu knots, oversized gold chains and darker lipstick colors, prompting accusations of appropriating Black culture. Clips also showed them mimicking rap mannerisms, attempting to freestyle and referring to one member as "Lil Taco Bell," leading to further criticism.
Fans reacted swiftly, calling the livestream insensitive and accusing it of trivializing hip-hop aesthetics for entertainment value. Some comments written on the recorded livestream on YouTube condemned the group for "milking and mocking" another culture, with some expressing their disappointment by stating that they were "leaving the fandom hurt."
Some also pointed to a Monday message posted on the group's fan platform that appeared to anticipate backlash: "This year's birthday live was so much fun ... Please look forward to Julie's birthday content too and promise you won't leave the fandom after watching it."
In response, Kiss of Life's agency, S2 Entertainment, removed the livestream and apologized Thursday afternoon.
"We apologize for using language and style that reflect racial stereotypes," the agency said in a statement on its official social media account.
"The content was produced in an old-school hip-hop style as directed, with the intent of showing respect for the culture. However, we failed to recognize that it could be perceived as reinforcing racial stereotypes," it added.
It said all content related to the livestream would be removed.
"We sincerely apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable. The members also take this matter seriously, and we will be more cautious and respectful when incorporating cultural elements in the future."
For Julie, the 24-year-old singer from Hawaii, the backlash has revived scrutiny over a past incident that also involved racial insensitivity.
In 2023, Julie apologized after a resurfaced video showed her singing American rapper B.o.B’s "Strange Clouds (feat. Lil Wayne)" as a trainee and using a racial slur. At the time, Julie issued a statement on Kiss of Life's official social media account, acknowledging that her actions had caused harm and saying she had since worked to educate herself.
Kiss of Life, comprising members Julie, Natty, Belle and Haneul, debuted in July 2023 with the single "Shhh," building a dedicated fanbase, including overseas, with follow-up hits like "Bad News" (2023), "Sticky" (2024) and "Igloo" (2024).
However, repeated controversies over the group's cultural insensitivity have led some international fans to reconsider their support.