Group ATEEZ member San is drawing heated attention with "BAD," and has been embroiled in controversy over a Japanese influencer's racist gesture.
Japanese influencer Gamix posted a video on his social media on the 20th imitating ATEEZ's "BAD" challenge that has recently gone viral.
In the released video, Gamix shows a photo of San at the bottom of the screen while mimicking his dance and facial expressions. The problem is that during this process he performed the so-called "eye-slanting" motion, pulling the outer corners of his eyes sideways with both hands. That gesture is widely recognized as a racist expression that mocks or demeans the physical features of East Asians, so criticism has continued. The controversy grew particularly because the action appeared while he had San's photo displayed and was imitating him.
As the controversy spread, Gamix deleted the video. However, he has not issued a separate apology or explanation.
In fact, this is not the first racial controversy surrounding San. Previously, about two years ago when he attended the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda show in Italy, allegations of online racial discrimination were also raised.
In the released on-site photos at the time, unlike other attendees, there was no cushion placed at San's seat, and he was photographed sitting uncomfortably in a cramped space. Some fans and netizens raised suspicions that this was discriminatory treatment, which sparked the controversy.
Meanwhile, ATEEZ has continued a long-running hit with the title track "BAD" from the mini 14th album "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5," released on June 26. In particular, the so-called "everyone dies part" of San's music show performance elicited an explosive reaction online and spread through various parodies and challenges. Actor Don Lee and comedian Lee Seon-min also joined the parodies, fueling the "Choi-san syndrome."
San, who is enjoying hot popularity at the center of the "BAD" syndrome, has once again become the target of racial controversy, and fan criticism continues.
[Photo] KQ Entertainment, BAD music video
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