The group KISS OF LIFE has issued an apology for portraying racial stereotypes in their content.
On January 3rd, KISS OF LIFE's agency, S2 Entertainment, stated, "We apologize for using expressions and styles that follow racial stereotypes in the birthday content uploaded on the 2nd."
They further explained, "The content was created based on an old-school hip-hop style, as previously mentioned, with the intention of respecting the culture. However, we failed to fully recognize that it could be perceived as reinforcing stereotypes about a particular race."
The agency continued, "We sincerely apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable. The members are taking this issue seriously, and we will approach cultural elements with more caution and respect in the future. Consequently, we plan to delete all related content."
Previously, KISS OF LIFE faced criticism during a live broadcast celebrating member JULIE's birthday on the 2nd, where they were seen imitating the appearance and speech patterns associated with Black people.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)