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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 go ad free now Amid the ongoing issue, the group has now withdrawn from a major music festival.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.
