One t-shirt has led to fierce backlash for 2 woman group idols this week. Each Kep1er‘s Yujin and BADVILLAIN‘s Ina got here underneath fireplace inside days of one another for sporting a controversial t-shirt design that followers have condemned as deeply disrespectful to Islam.
The t-shirt on the middle of followers’ disappointment and frustration is a design from the Korean model 604SERVICE. Constructed from black material with lengthy sleeves, the highest is adorned with crystal elaborations forming a picture of the Kaaba. On both aspect of the Kaaba, “Allah” and “Muhammad” are written in Arabic.
Central to Islam, the Kaaba is a deeply sacred website for Muslims. Equally, Allah and the Prophet Muhammad maintain profound significance. As such, quite a few followers are expressing outrage seeing the weather used as ornament on an off-the-cuff trend merchandise.
The backlash first unfolded on November 27, when Ina appeared carrying the t-shirt in a TikTok dance video with fellow member Chloe Younger. The response was swift, with followers instantly criticizing Ina within the video’s feedback. Throughout social media, many followers even referred to as for a boycott of the rookie group, explaining why the clothes was thought-about offensive and culturally insensitive.
@bpmentofficial as a muslim we want your apologize, it is an enormous insult to Muslims. So delete this put up
— 필ly✿ || GF comeback is REAL (@pearlysvtz) November 27, 2024
Inside hours of the response, it appeared that followers’ messages had reached Ina herself. Round midnight Korean time, she took to the fan-artist communication platform Bubble to handle the scenario in English. In her first message, she expressed her remorse for carrying the t-shirt and her willingness to be taught from the expertise.
I do hear you guys…I received’t ever keep ignorant + will repeatedly educate myself!! Please perceive that A LOT of issues are out of my arms… however I’ll strive my greatest.. I sincerely apologize to those that have been damage.
— BADVILLAIN’s Ina (by way of Bubble)
Ina quickly adopted up with a message that learn, “Thanks for holding me accountable!” The TikTok was later deleted from BADVILLAIN’s channel.
badvillain tiktok replace with ina#INA #이나#BADVILLAIN #배드빌런 pic.twitter.com/RjuNnwbVVR
— ina pics (@inathinker) November 27, 2024
Following her apology, a number of followers had been nonetheless sad with the scenario, stating that Ina ought to have issued her assertion on a extra public social media platform to succeed in a wider viewers.
u thought apologizing on bubble is sufficient? the way in which I do know so rattling effectively that u can be apologizing with tears on ur official social media if its relationship scandal or any shit like that😂!!! not solely u disrespected the faith u didnt see it a giant deal #BADVILLAIN_APOLOGIZE_TO_MUSLIM pic.twitter.com/Aw6Chl2ZaV
— Riri (@no2one4) November 29, 2024
Others, nonetheless, praised Ina for rapidly taking duty and committing to educating herself, noting that her message did state loads of issues are out of her arms. Many followers consider that the group’s company, BPM Leisure (also referred to as Huge Planet Made Leisure), should be answerable for BADVILLAIN’s TikTok account provided that the video wasn’t deleted instantly upon Ina’s apology, however it’s unclear whether or not the members are allowed to put up on different social media channels with out permission.
BPM must take accountability quicker ina apologized on her bbl account however the firm remains to be sluggish to put up an official apology on their account this isn’t the primary time BPM has been sluggish to behave bear in mind how lengthy it took them to get better their artists’ hacked accounts….. https://t.co/QJnFuD5jyF
— َ (@BADVNIZ) November 30, 2024
Naturally, followers additionally turned their consideration in the direction of the model itself, calling on 604SERVICE to apologize and take motion. Alongside anger on the t-shirt Ina was carrying, a number of followers additionally criticized a second model of the highest with quick sleeves.
making a cropped tank high is like an added offense bc islam is a faith that promotes modesty this looks like mockery pic.twitter.com/7kgFSFgpCb
— 🦁ྀི ²⁷⁰⁷ (@bubblehiyyih) November 29, 2024
On November 28, the corporate issued their very own assertion on social media. In a prolonged apology, 604SERVICE expressed remorse for his or her failure to contemplate the cultural and non secular significance of the imagery they used.
It was by no means our intention to disrespect any tradition, faith, or group of individuals however we failed to totally think about the cultural and non secular significance of sure symbols, pictures, and types. On doing so, we missed the deeply held beliefs of many within the Muslim neighborhood and, in consequence, created one thing that was inappropriate. We perceive that clothes is not only a matter of trend. We deeply remorse that our designs didn’t present the respect and sensitivity that we now understand is essential in such issues.
— 604SERVICE (by way of Instagram)
The model went on to say that they’d eliminated the offending merchandise from their web site, showroom, and retailers they work with as a “first step,” with a view to revisiting their design course of with enter from these with extra experience.
We’re additionally open to suggestions and devoted to creating any adjustments required to make sure that our work is extra inclusive and respectful sooner or later. We perceive that an apology is simply step one, and actions converse louder than phrases. We can be doing every little thing we are able to to make sure that our future creations are considerate, respectful, and thoughtful of the varied communities we goal to serve.
— 604SERVICE (by way of Instagram)
Nevertheless, the next day, the identical t-shirt got here to consideration as soon as once more following a sequence of photographs Kep1er’s Yujin shared with followers on her personal Bubble channel. After the photographs had been shared on public social media platforms reminiscent of X, criticism rapidly reignited, together with amongst followers who had been unaware of Ina’s scenario.
Wtf that is so disrespectful and disappointing pic.twitter.com/KQGNsgQCfp
— yuᗢs (@utokkiyubs) November 29, 2024
Whereas it appears the styling solely got here to mild after 604SERVICE withdrew the shirt from market, eagle-eyed followers quickly realized that this was not the primary time Yujin had been pictured carrying the highest. It was additionally a part of her styling for the November 6 episode of Present Champion, on which Kep1er carried out their new comeback pre-release “sync-love.”
The photographs Yujin posted on Bubble additionally seem to have been taken earlier than the controversy unfolded on November 27 on the group’s MAKESTAR fansign occasion.
Once more, many expressed their disappointment with all events concerned: Yujin, the group’s stylist, and their administration company KLAP Leisure, in addition to their authentic label WAKEONE.
That is so disappointing. Even in the event you’re my bias I received’t stand by understanding somebody disrespecting my faith. Islam isn’t an aesthetic or a development
Should you had been ignorant I hope you be taught from this and educate your self, take accountability, apologise and be extra cautious to any extent further… pic.twitter.com/hmHN1e6E3w
— Run🍉 (@crystkep) November 29, 2024
The hashtags #YUJIN_APOLOGIZE_TO_MUSLIM and #INA_APOLOGIZE_TO_MUSLIM quickly gained traction with messages focused at Yujin and Ina themselves in addition to their corporations.
my faith isn’t your aesthetic #YUJIN_APOLOGIZE_TO_MUSLIM pic.twitter.com/7U7K4oodaL
— lein 🍉 °○° (@elleinnaa) November 30, 2024
Later, the day after sharing the photographs, followers noticed that they’d been deleted from the platform. Shortly afterwards, on December 1, Yujin issued her personal apology to followers on Bubble. In her assertion, the Kep1er star sincerely addressed the followers who had been damage by her actions and pledged to be extra cautious sooner or later.
I sincerely apologize for not being conscious of the problem with the t-shirt. I ought to have seemed into it extra completely, and I wish to categorical my apologies to those that had been damage due to me. I’ll act with better care shifting ahead to make sure that one thing like this doesn’t occur once more.
— Kep1er’s Yujin (by way of Bubble)
yujin has apologised on bbl #CHOI_YUJIN #최유진 #YUJIN #Kep1er pic.twitter.com/x7gKfFQXiw
— 🎀 (@yujintothesky) December 1, 2024
Not lengthy later, KLAP Leisure additionally addressed the controversy publicly on X. Explaining to followers that they’ve deleted all associated photographs, the company apologised to world followers for his or her “ignorance and shortcomings” in failing to contemplate the t-shirt’s connotations.
Hi there, that is KLAP Leisure.
We have now lately confirmed {that a} design on Kep1er member Yujin’s outfit included non secular symbolism, and in consequence, we’ve taken measures to delete all associated photographs.
We should always have rigorously reviewed the outfit upfront to make sure it didn’t carry any non secular connotations, however this incident occurred as a consequence of our ignorance and shortcomings. We deeply apologize to everybody who felt uncomfortable due to this.
As Kep1er is a gaggle liked not solely in Korea but additionally globally, we are going to train better warning to stop such incidents from occurring sooner or later.
As soon as once more, we sincerely apologize.
— KLAP Leisure (by way of X)
thanks klap ent for taking accountability relating to the problem. thanks for safeguarding yujin and kep1er. https://t.co/pgjUeVivpK
— eli 🐯 (@chaehmails) December 1, 2024
Whereas followers of Kep1er have praised KLAP Leisure for taking their very own accountability on the matter, followers of BADVILLAIN proceed to criticise BPM Leisure for staying silent after Ina’s apology.