Back in April 2025, K-pop girl group, KISS OF LIFE (키스 오브 라이프), was wrapped up in a controversy following member Julie’s (쥴리) birthday livestream. The “hip-hop themed” event was labelled as cultural appropriation, sparking backlash from netizens. Understandably, fans were not happy about the matter, prompting multiple apologies from the group.
On Saturday (31st May 2025), KISS OF LIFE’s Julie took the opportunity on an Instagram livestream to once again address the controversy surrounding her birthday live stream. She explains that for the past two months, the group have been reflecting on their actions and how they can be better for their fans in the future.
In response to the requests of many fans, Julie addressed specific communities who were affected by the controversy, namely the Black and Latino communities. “We do understand that we hurt and disappointed a lot of our fans. What we can promise is that we’re working hard to be better and show everyone our passion for music, in whatever genre it is”, she adds.
Julie also touches on the importance for the group to take accountability for the matter and has been striving to educate themselves in order for these issues to never happen again. Fans responded with mixed reactions, with some speculating on the genuineness of her apology. Some pointed out that Julie took too long to address the issue, with no further actions provided to make up for hurting fans. Twitter user @/TayoPSG comments, “Apologising won’t work, set an example for your followers by doing something“.
However, some fans also gave their support over the group’s apologies. Some also called out hate crimes towards the group following the controversial livestream. Twitter user @/Nljigakulive comments, “She made a direct apology here to affected communities. The hate and abuse she and the girls have faced over the last few months has been gross, even threats of violence. It needs to stop”.
KISS OF LIFE also reportedly pulled out of the upcoming KCON LA 2025 event due to the backlash faced from the incident. While it’s hard to say, we hope the group will genuinely reflect on their actions. What do you think about Julie’s apology?
Watch the full video here:
