Latest news with #S2Entertainment
Korea Herald
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Kiss of Life to return with fourth EP '224' next month
The K-pop girl group often called a 'miracle from a small agency' will be dropping their fourth EP '224' on June 9, Kiss of Life's agency S2 Entertainment announced Monday. The teaser video, released via the company's official YouTube channel at midnight, opens with a close-up of Haneul's face, followed by captivating visuals of the other members standing under dramatic lighting. The striking imagery and atmospheric sound design heighten expectations for the upcoming release. Since its debut, Kiss of Life has explored the theme of 'freedom' through music and visuals. With '224,' anticipation is building around the message the group will deliver in this next chapter. Meanwhile, the group is set to hold an encore concert for its first world tour, 'Kiss Road,' at Jangchung Arena in Seoul on July 19 and 20 'The tour began in Seoul and went on to span the globe. We ask for your continued support and anticipation for what Kiss of Life will bring to the stage as it returns to where it all started,' S2 Entertainment said in a statement, Thursday. Kiss of Life kicked off its world tour last October at Olympic Hall in Seoul and has since connected with fans across the US, Europe and Asia. On May 7, the group also released a special digital album titled 'Kiss Road,' capturing their growth as artists and the close bonds they built with their fandom, Kissy, during the tour.
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 go ad free now Amid the ongoing issue, the group has now withdrawn from a major music festival.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
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Kiss of Life to hold encore in Seoul in July
S2 Entertainment, the agency behind Kiss of Life, announced on Thursday that the group will perform again in Seoul on July 19-20 to conclude its first international tour. The quartet kicked off its 'Kiss Road' tour in Seoul in October and traveled to 39 cities worldwide, including 15 in the US and 12 in Europe. Earlier in May, the group dropped the special digital single titled after the tour to reflect on the journey, fronted by the R&B pop tune, 'Live, Love, Laugh.' The group is expected to return with a new album in June, about eight months after its third EP 'Lose Yourself.' The main track from the 2024 mini album 'Get Loud' came in first place on a television music chart show, while the B-side track 'Igloo' went viral and made Melon's Top 100 Chart.
Korea Herald
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Kiss of Life's troubles with 'cultural insensitivity' nothing new in K-pop
Kiss of Life, a K-pop girl group managed by S2 Entertainment, has come under fire for a livestreamed birthday party for one of its members that many viewers found culturally and racially insensitive. The agency issued an official apology the following day and the group later shared a handwritten letter on social media addressing the criticisms. While K-pop agencies have increasingly made efforts to educate their artists on cultural sensitivities, historical context and even regional taboos, such controversies continue to resurface. Kiss of Life livestreamed Julie's birthday party themed around old-school hip-hop on April 2. The content quickly drew fire, as the bandmates appeared dressed in styles associated with Black rappers, mimicked African American Vernacular English and exaggerated gestures, which many of those watching deemed as racially insensitive. Following the backlash, the agency deleted the video and issued an apology, saying, 'We will take a more respectful and careful approach when incorporating cultural elements in the future.' However, the issue continued to grow — particularly among international fans, and the girl group posted another apology via its official social media. 'Our intention was to show how much we loved the genre of old-school hip-hop because it greatly influences our music. … We realize now that our content was culturally insensitive and take full responsibility for our actions and can only promise to do better,' the group wrote. A 33-year-old Black American entertainer based in Seoul pointed out that the biggest issue of Kiss of Life's case isn't necessarily the outfit, but rather the mannerism and acting the girl group exhibited. 'During the clip, they are seen adopting a 'blaccent' and imitating mannerisms they perceive to be stereotypical of Black American women," the entertainer said on condition of anonymity, Monday. "Throughout this, they're often giggling — as if mocking the way Black women interact. As a result, it feels like they see Black American culture as comical rather than inspirational.' Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University, also criticized the video clip. '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," Kao said. "To many Americans, this would seem like mocking Black hip-hop artists. It does seem disrespectful.' In 2019, Twice was criticized for mosque-like imagery used as a backdrop during a televised performance. Although the concept was said to have been inspired by Disney's 'Aladdin,' the inclusion of Islamic motifs, such as a crescent moon, prompted backlash from Muslim fans who called it culturally insensitive. Mamamoo apoliogized in 2017 after using dark brown makeup to imitate Bruno Mars for a cover of "Uptown Funk," a year after its member Hwasa faced criticism for singing a version of Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" that included a racial slur. Another girl group, Oh My Girl, has also faced repeated criticism for cultural missteps. In 2016, one of its music videos featured a Native American tipi, leading to accusations of cultural appropriation and boycott threats from Indigenous communities in the US. 'K-pop has been going global since the early 2010s, and these controversies have occurred regularly since then — often at least once a year,' said music critic Lee Hee-yun on Monday. 'Given the history, most agencies have become more cautious, so for something like this to happen again points to a clear lack of attention.' An entertainment industry official agreed, calling the agency's oversight 'careless.' 'These days, artists receive detailed cultural training before going on tour — including gender issues, regional sensitivities and even specific gestures to avoid,' the official said. 'It's not just about touring anymore. Platforms like Weverse have increased direct communication between idols and global fans, so agencies have to be much more mindful,' the official added. 'This Kiss of Life incident is clearly a misstep by the company. There have been many similar cases before — Hwasa comes to mind. The group may have had good intentions, but race-related issues are something agencies now educate artists on very thoroughly.' jaaykim@
