Celebrities are often scrutinised for what they post on social media, whether it be photos, videos or text. However, Japanese girl group f5ve (ファイビー) found themselves in hot water recently after sharing a meme of the late K-pop idol Goo Hara (구하라).
On 8th April 2025 (Tuesday), the group reposted an image on its Instagram Stories depicting a woman with the text “IDGAF” written in bold. The image also had additional text and decorations, including a coffin in the bottom left corner. It’s worth noting that f5ve is known for its “Gen-Z” marketing and often shares fanmade memes on their social media. Unfortunately, this particular meme got them heat because the woman depicted was KARA’s (카라) Goo Hara.
For those unaware, Goo Hara was a beloved K-pop idol who sadly took her own life in 2019. Given the circumstances of her death, the meme was seen as distasteful, especially because of the coffin image. While f5ve didn’t create the meme, the girl group still faced backlash for sharing it on their social media. Many also argue that the idols disrespected the dead and a senior, as Goo Hara debuted in KARA in 2008.
Following the backlash, f5ve quickly removed the image from their Instagram Stories and issued an apology. The statement reads, “Thank you to those of you who have informed our team about the distasteful meme shared yesterday on f5ve Instagram story. We often feature memes we find using f5ve sounds and were not familiar with Goo Hara or the context around the image (which will not be shared here out of respect).”
The apology continues, “We are deeply sorry and appreciate those who reached out to educate on this matter, this is not something we take lightly.” Many fans thanked the quintet for their quick response, hoping they would continue to reflect on their mistake. However, others blamed their social media team, saying their carelessness could’ve damaged the girl group’s image. Some argued that the team might not be Japanese, as Goo Hara was very popular in Japan.
We’re glad f5ve, and their team, quickly recognised the issue and owned up to their mistake. We also hope the singers and their staff will be more vigilant.
