KISS OF LIFE dropped from KCON LA just 5 days after announcement following fan backlash over cultural appropriation controversy

Correct five days after being announced as section of the KCON LA 2025 lineup, KISS OF LIFE has been dropped from the festival, and followers are striking two and two together.

On Would possibly perhaps well perhaps also 16, KCON LA organizers launched an official commentary confirming the community’s laying aside. “After cautious consideration and thorough discussions exploring all avenues for participation, KCON and S2 Leisure luxuriate in mutually agreed that KISS OF LIFE is potentially no longer joining KCON LA 2025,” it learn. “We sincerely declare regret to the followers who luxuriate in been waiting for the performance and demand to your figuring out.”

While the announcement didn’t dive into why the community was out, the fetch isn’t clueless. The timing traces up closely with the ongoing backlash KISS OF LIFE confronted over a controversial birthday livestream in April.

Right via the live, celebrating member Julie, the community styled themselves with an outdated-college hip-hop theme that many viewers, especially global followers, known as out for playing into immoral Murky stereotypes.

Followers took reveal with a entire lot of issues: exaggerated “Murky mannerisms,” the exercise of culturally necessary braided hairstyles as costume objects, and a parody rap title, Lil Taco. The second swiftly made waves online, with followers on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) calling out the community for crossing a line and lowering Murky tradition to a theme occasion.

KISS OF LIFE’s backlash precipitated S2 Leisure to reveal an apology on Would possibly perhaps well perhaps also 4, announcing they regretted the usage of stereotypical imagery and expressions. About a days later, on Would possibly perhaps well perhaps also 6, the members posted handwritten apology letters in English on their social media. Aloof, a section of the fanbase felt the apologies didn’t entirely address the hurt or display a gradual figuring out of the difficulty.

Neither KCON nor S2 Leisure confirmed that the controversy was the reason at the support of the community’s laying aside, however followers online aren’t shopping the “mutual decision” line without context. To many, it’s positive that the fallout from the livestream pushed the organizers to reconsider.

KCON LA 2025 will quiet clutch verbalize from August 1 to some, with extra artist announcements expected soon. While followers are upset, others are announcing this transfer reveals that accountability is becoming extra well-known within the Good ample-pop world, especially when artists are performing on global phases.

Whether this turns into a teachable second or a protracted-term hit to KISS OF LIFE’s picture remains to be up within the air.