After singer Bada sparked backlash for calling a beauty product “Australian” in a YouTube segment, the channel behind the video, Glam Me, acknowledged the line was scripted and issued a formal apology.
The team posted an apology on Bada’s official fan cafe on Aug. 15, stating, “The line ‘I first saw it in Australia’ was not the artist’s personal experience. It was written by our staff based on information provided by the advertiser. While the advertiser signed off on it, we did not sufficiently verify the facts. We sincerely apologize for the confusion and inconvenience caused to both consumers and the performer.”
In the video, Bada praised the product, saying, “I actually first came across this little guy when I was in Australia.” Viewers later pointed out the item isn’t an Australian brand but a Korean label manufactured and distributed domestically.
The issue was first raised by YouTube channel ‘Samang Fox.’ On Aug. 4, the channel alleged that Brand M had long marketed itself as a “global Australian brand,” despite being wholly owned by a Korean company.
Brand M responded that it operates independently under a formal licensing agreement, but ad materials featuring phrases like “Australian-made” and “Australian company” surfaced, accelerating a broader debate over so-called “nationality laundering” in advertising.
As the controversy grew, Bada posted a handwritten apology on her social media on Aug. 5, writing, “The line was in the script, but I can’t avoid responsibility for what came out of my mouth. I deeply regret not reviewing the content more thoroughly beforehand.” She added, “I’ll be more cautious with any content I participate in going forward.”
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)