K-pop girl group KISS OF LIFE is currently facing widespread criticism after a controversial livestream for member Julie’s birthday reignited concerns about cultural appropriation. The event, themed “old-school hip hop vibes,” sparked backlash due to the members’ attire and behavior, which many viewers felt leaned into harmful racial stereotypes.

During the stream, the members wore oversized gold chains, hats, and hairstyles like cornrows while dancing and freestyling to rap and hip-hop tracks — a presentation that many online deemed as mimicking Black culture without proper context or respect. The incident quickly escalated into a heated discussion about cultural sensitivity within K-pop, with fans and critics calling for greater awareness and accountability.

As the conversation deepens, an older viral clip featuring Julie’s comments about Black backup dancers from the group’s “Lose Yourself” era has resurfaced. In the video, Julie praised the dancers featured in the “Get Loud” music video, sharing:

“For the music video, the dancers actually came to Korea from the United States. We started the intro really cool, but our dancers really played a big role this time. They came, and within a short amount of time, they really did their best and acted cool with us.”

The clip, which shows the group interacting warmly with their Black dancers and fans, has divided public opinion. Some viewers argue that Julie’s words reflect genuine admiration and appreciation for Black culture, suggesting that the group’s intent was not malicious. Others, however, feel the video is part of a broader pattern of surface-level engagement with Black culture without full understanding or respect.

While the group has not yet issued a formal statement in response to the birthday livestream controversy, the incident has reignited ongoing discussions about the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation — particularly in the global music industry.