Latest news with #KCONLA2025
Pink Villa
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
KISS OF LIFE's Julie faces backlash for allegedly dropping snippet of diss track amid cultural appropriation scandal
KISS OF LIFE is set to make their comeback with their upcoming mini album 224. Ahead of that, Julie released a snippet of the upcoming release on TikTok. New songs generally excite fans right? But not this one. The song was alleged to be a diss track and fans were infuriated with the timing of the release as it came amid the group's cultural appropriation scandal. However, a lot of her fans rallied to defend the artist, claiming the accusations to be baseless. Julie 's recently released preview of KISS OF LIFE 's new song got viral on X (formerly Twitter), but not for the reasons they might have hoped. The group faced backlash for allegedly releasing a diss track. The timing of the release only added to the hate train, as they were already under scrutiny for a previous controversy of black culture appropriation. The song featured the following lines– You don't like me, that's fine You don't like me, k bye You don't like me, then why Check out fan reactions to KISS OF LIFE's new track The lyrics of the song led many to believe that KISS OF LIFE was assertively stating they're unbothered by the public's criticism surrounding cultural appropriation. Following their removal from the KCON LA 2025 lineup, some saw this song as a direct response to the backlash they've faced. Concerned fans argued that, "the worst possible thing kiof could do after their controversy is release a hater diss track." They felt that it would only add fuel to the fire. Is KISS OF LIFE's new song actually a diss track As the quintet received hate for allegedly dropping a diss track, KISS OF LIFE fans defended them by shedding light on the next line of the song. According to them and also as per Julie's past statement, the song was 'dedicated to all the exes that broke our hearts.' The line that confirmed the same was– "Do you wish we then why do you wish we were making love in your mind all the time?" Fans accused haters of wanting to "cancel them (the girl group) over anything atp (at this point)." This instance showed that even after the group members' multiple apologies, people are still not ready to forgive and forget their alleged mocking of black culture.
Hype Malaysia
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) KISS OF LIFE's Julie Apologises For Her Controversial Live Birthday Stream
Back in April 2025, K-pop girl group, KISS OF LIFE (키스 오브 라이프), was wrapped up in a controversy following member Julie's (쥴리) birthday livestream. The 'hip-hop themed' event was labelled as cultural appropriation, sparking backlash from netizens. Understandably, fans were not happy about the matter, prompting multiple apologies from the group. On Saturday (31st May 2025), KISS OF LIFE's Julie took the opportunity on an Instagram livestream to once again address the controversy surrounding her birthday live stream. She explains that for the past two months, the group have been reflecting on their actions and how they can be better for their fans in the future. In response to the requests of many fans, Julie addressed specific communities who were affected by the controversy, namely the Black and Latino communities. 'We do understand that we hurt and disappointed a lot of our fans. What we can promise is that we're working hard to be better and show everyone our passion for music, in whatever genre it is', she adds. Julie also touches on the importance for the group to take accountability for the matter and has been striving to educate themselves in order for these issues to never happen again. Fans responded with mixed reactions, with some speculating on the genuineness of her apology. Some pointed out that Julie took too long to address the issue, with no further actions provided to make up for hurting fans. Twitter user @/TayoPSG comments, 'Apologising won't work, set an example for your followers by doing something'. However, some fans also gave their support over the group's apologies. Some also called out hate crimes towards the group following the controversial livestream. Twitter user @/Nljigakulive comments, 'She made a direct apology here to affected communities. The hate and abuse she and the girls have faced over the last few months has been gross, even threats of violence. It needs to stop'. KISS OF LIFE also reportedly pulled out of the upcoming KCON LA 2025 event due to the backlash faced from the incident. While it's hard to say, we hope the group will genuinely reflect on their actions. What do you think about Julie's apology? Watch the full video here: Julie of KISS OF LIFE apologizes for the group's racially insensitive birthday livestream on Instagram Live: 'It's nerve-wracking to talk about everything that is going on, but because we are a bit of a more mature group, it's very important for us to take accountability for our… — Pop Base (@PopBase) May 31, 2025 Source: Allkpop, Twitter What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
KISS OF LIFE will NOT participate in 'KCON LA 2025' amid cultural appropriation backlash
Popular K-pop girl group KISS OF LIFE has recently come under public scrutiny due to a controversy. Following backlash over their controversial comments and behaviour towards Black people, the group has faced widespread criticism. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Amid the ongoing issue, the group has now withdrawn from a major music festival. KISS OF LIFE withdraws from 'KCON LA' amid controversy The organisers released a statement on social media, saying: "Regrettably, after careful consideration and thorough discussions exploring all avenues for participation, 'KCON' and S2 Entertainment have mutually decided that KISS OF LIFE will no longer be participating in ' KCON LA 2025 '." They added: "We sincerely apologise to the fans who were looking forward to the performance and ask for your understanding." While the official statement did not provide a specific reason, the timing lines up with the backlash the group is facing over accusations of appropriating Black culture during a live stream. More about KISS OF LIFE's controversy The controversy began during a livestream in April, where fans took issue with the group using exaggerated expressions and mannerisms associated with Black culture. This included wearing braided hairstyles as costume elements and adopting an old-school hip-hop theme for styling. The group also introduced a parody rap name, 'Lil Taco', which sparked further criticism and accusations of cultural insensitivity. Online criticism and backlash faced by the girl group In response to the growing backlash, the group's management agency issued an official apology, expressing regret for using 'stereotypical imagery and expressions'. A few days later, the members posted handwritten apology letters on their social media accounts and fan platforms. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, many fans were not satisfied with the apologies, calling them shallow and lacking sincerity. Several argued that the group still failed to directly address the core issues. More about KISS OF LIFE KISS OF LIFE rose to popularity following their debut in 2023 with a self-titled EP. The group's name symbolises their aim to breathe new life into the music industry through their songs and charisma. About 'KCON USA 2025' ' KCON USA 2025' is set to take place in Los Angeles from 1 to 3 August.
Pink Villa
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
KISS OF LIFE dropped from KCON LA just 5 days after announcement following fan backlash over cultural appropriation controversy
Just five days after being announced as part of the KCON LA 2025 lineup, KISS OF LIFE has been dropped from the festival, and fans are putting two and two together. On May 16, KCON LA organizers released an official statement confirming the group's removal. 'After careful consideration and thorough discussions exploring all avenues for participation, KCON and S2 Entertainment have mutually agreed that KISS OF LIFE will not be joining KCON LA 2025,' it read. 'We sincerely apologize to the fans who were looking forward to the performance and ask for your understanding.' While the announcement didn't dive into why the group was suddenly out, the internet isn't clueless. The timing lines up closely with the ongoing backlash KISS OF LIFE faced over a controversial birthday livestream in April. During the live, celebrating member Julie, the group styled themselves with an old-school hip-hop theme that many viewers, especially international fans, called out for playing into harmful Black stereotypes. Fans took issue with several things: exaggerated "Black mannerisms," the use of culturally significant braided hairstyles as costume pieces, and a parody rap name, Lil Taco. The moment quickly made waves online, with fans on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) calling out the group for crossing a line and reducing Black culture to a theme party. KISS OF LIFE 's backlash prompted S2 Entertainment to issue an apology on May 4, saying they regretted using stereotypical imagery and expressions. A few days later, on May 6, the members posted handwritten apology letters in English on their social. Still, a part of the fanbase felt the apologies didn't fully address the harm or show a real understanding of the issue. Neither KCON nor S2 Entertainment confirmed that the controversy was the reason behind the group's removal, but fans online aren't buying the 'mutual decision' line without context. To many, it's clear that the fallout from the livestream pushed the organizers to reconsider. KCON LA 2025 will still take place from August 1 to 3, with more artist announcements expected soon. While fans are disappointed, others are saying this move shows that accountability is becoming more important in the K-pop world, especially when artists are performing on global stages. Whether this turns into a teachable moment or a long-term hit to KISS OF LIFE 's image is still up in the air.
Korea Herald
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
KCON returns to Los Angeles with expanded festival experience
CJ ENM announced Monday that the world's largest K-pop fan and artist festival, KCON, will be back in Los Angeles this summer with an upgraded experience. "KCON LA 2025" will take place at Arena and the LA Convention Center from August 1 to 3, combining large-scale concerts with convention programs celebrating K-pop culture and entertainment. This year's festival will feature performances by 11 artists in its initial lineup, including HxW (Seventeen's Hoshi and Woozi), Ive, Izna, Lee Young-ji, Nmixx, P1Harmony and Zerobaseone. This year's KCON promises a reimagined festival atmosphere with several new attractions. Highlights include the Festival Grounds, designed to feel like a lively club fair rather than traditional exhibition booths; the X Stage, a newly introduced performance space; and the Artist Stage, offering solo performances throughout the day. First launched in 2012 in Irvine, California, KCON has played a pioneering role in spreading Korean culture worldwide through its unique festival model, centering on music while embracing TV dramas, films and more. The event has since been held in 14 regions across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. Meanwhile, CJ ENM is also preparing for "KCON Japan 2025" scheduled for May 9-11 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture.
