The group Kiss of Life will not participate in 'KCON LA 2025.'
On the morning of the 17th, KCON USA noted through its official account that 'Unfortunately, KCON and S2 Entertainment mutually decided after careful consideration and thorough discussions about all participation options that Kiss of Life will no longer participate in KCON LA 2025.'
'We sincerely apologize to the fans who were looking forward to the performance and ask for your understanding,' they added, 'We will do our best to provide you with a more special and memorable experience in the coming months.'
KCON USA stated that they made the decision to withdraw after discussing it with the agency, but did not disclose specific reasons for the withdrawal.
However, netizens are speculating that they decided to withdraw due to the recent controversy where Kiss of Life mocked Black individuals, mentioning that this might be the reason for their withdrawal.
Earlier, Kiss of Life held a live broadcast to celebrate member Juli's birthday on the 2nd of last month. On that day, Kiss of Life's concept showcased various stylings themed around old school hip-hop, particularly featuring Black female rappers, amid the racial controversy.
International fans pointed out that the Black mannerisms of Kiss of Life in the video were exaggerated, that the use of racially sensitive braided hairstyles was treated like an accessory, and that they mocked Black naming conventions by using 'Lil Taco.'
In relation to this, the agency S2 Entertainment posted an apology on its official social media on the 4th of the same month, stating, 'We apologize for using expressions and styles that follow stereotypes of a specific race in the birthday content uploaded on the 2nd.' On the 6th, the members also conveyed their apologies through handwritten letters posted on their official social media in English.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]