Former NCT singer Mark Lee‘s record label have apologised after the Canadian K-pop star was pictured wearing a Confederate flag t-shirt.
His label Upper Room have since posted an Instagram Story with a lengthy apology over the incident.
Posted yesterday (Tuesday June 23), they wrote: “We would like to extend our sincere apologies for the concern, discomfort, and disappointment caused by the vintage T-shirt that appeared in a recently shared photograph.
“The garment was selected solely as a vintage wardrobe item. However, upon recognising the historical significance and sensitivity associated with the symbol displayed on the T-shirt, we took measures to ensure that it would not be visible in any official content.
“Despite these efforts, the image was subsequently shared externally, resulting in the symbol being visible and causing understandable concern among members of the public.”
Acknowledging that the intention behind Lee’s shirt didn’t erase the harm it may have caused, the statement continued by recognising that “this matter should have been handled with greater diligence and care. We take full responsibility for this oversight.”
It added. “Upper Room and the artist unequivocally reject and do not tolerate racism, hate, discrimination, or any form of intolerance. We understand the seriousness of the concerns that have been raised and deeply regret the distress this incident has caused,”
The company went on to sat it would “strengthen” its internal review procedures for wardrobe selections and content approval to avoid future incidents.
“We sincerely apologise to everyone who was hurt, offended, or disappointed by this situation. We remain committed to acting with greater responsibility, awareness, and care moving forward,” Upper Room concluded.
The Confederate flag dates to the Civil War era of the 1860s when it was used by slave-owning states in the South.
Many Americans now view it as a racist symbol although others defend it as an emblem of southern heritage, according to BBC News.
Mark was a member of both NCT Dream and NCT 127 before he quit in April. At the time, SM Entertainment stated (via Billboard) that his departure was based on a “mutual agreement” between the artist and company, while Lee said in a message to fans, “I’m truly and always thinking about you guys … and I’ll really be working very very hard to make it all make sense.”
Last year he released his debut solo album ‘The Firstfruit’, which received four stars from NME and was described as the singer piecing “together the building blocks of his life in a deeply personal offering”.
It added: “After fracturing himself into pieces for nearly a decade, Mark has crafted something of an autobiographical marvel with ‘The Firstfruit’. The world of K-pop can sometimes fall into the trap of eschewing authenticity in favour of surface-level platitudes, but the NCT star lays it all bare. This is Mark, complete and whole.”