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G-Dragon faces controversy over racist remark on clothing; agency apologizes
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Culture & Society

G-Dragon faces controversy over racist remark on clothing; agency apologizes

From Dong-A Ilbo · (11m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • K-pop star G-Dragon is facing controversy over racist remarks on his clothing during a performance in Macau.
  • His agency, Galaxy Corporation, issued a sincere apology, acknowledging the inappropriate message on his outfit.
  • The agency promised to improve internal review processes to prevent future cultural insensitivity.

Global superstar G-Dragon, a prominent figure in the K-pop scene and a member of the iconic group BIGBANG, finds himself at the center of a significant controversy following his recent performance in Macau. The artist wore an outfit emblazoned with a Dutch phrase that has been widely condemned as racist and offensive, sparking outrage among fans and the international community.

We sincerely apologize for the fact that the artist's performance outfit included a message that was inappropriate in its social and cultural context at the 'K Spark' event held in Macau on the 2nd.

โ€” Galaxy CorporationG-Dragon's agency, apologizing for the racist remark on his clothing.

The offending phrase, reportedly 'RONNY, EEN GEILE NEGER JONGEN,' contains sexually suggestive language and uses a derogatory term for Black people. Images of G-Dragon wearing the t-shirt circulated rapidly on social media, prompting swift criticism from fans worldwide who pointed out the deeply problematic nature of the message.

Through this incident, we have once again recognized the importance of more meticulous cultural sensitivity and responsible review.

โ€” Galaxy CorporationG-Dragon's agency, acknowledging the need for improved cultural awareness.

In response to the escalating backlash, G-Dragon's agency, Galaxy Corporation, released a formal statement expressing their "sincere apology." The agency admitted that the outfit's message was "socially and culturally inappropriate" and acknowledged the need for greater cultural sensitivity and thorough review processes. This incident underscores the heightened scrutiny that global artists face regarding their public image and the messages they convey.

We will carefully examine and improve the entire internal review and confirmation process, including styling.

โ€” Galaxy CorporationG-Dragon's agency, promising to enhance their review procedures.

Galaxy Corporation has pledged to implement more rigorous internal checks for styling and all other aspects of artist management to prevent similar incidents from occurring. They emphasized their commitment to respecting diverse cultural backgrounds and values in all future activities. This situation highlights the complex challenges of navigating cultural nuances in the global entertainment industry, where a single misstep can have far-reaching consequences.

We will approach all activities related to the artist with a more responsible and meticulous attitude so that diverse cultural backgrounds and values can be respected.

โ€” Galaxy CorporationG-Dragon's agency, committing to cultural respect in future endeavors.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.