Japanese K-pop idol Rei of girl group IVE is facing backlash over her “hip-hop style” Hello Kitty plushie.
During a recent livestream, IVE’s Rei showed viewers her tan Hello Kitty plushie. The K-pop star noted that while the doll originally had a pink outfit, she dressed it with a camouflage-printed bottom in order to give it a “hip-hop style”.
The singer then pretended to speak as the plushie, using phrases such as “gang gang”, “skrrt” and “show me what you got”.
Rei has since received backlash for her actions on X (formerly Twitter), with one user saying that its “tiring to see [the] ignorant perception [K-pop] idols have of Black people even in 2024”.
Meanwhile, another user said that “this is why kpop idols getting inspired by hiphop always feels inauthentic”, saying that it often defaults to “either harmful stereotypes or surface level clichés”.
The kitty is Hawaiian… not trying to “cancel” her but using “black stereotypes” on this plushie you can’t deny the implications. Sure she didn’t mean it but its a micro aggression & tiring to see ignorant perception idols have of Black ppl even in 2024 pic.twitter.com/bQJ7dgLwzD
— nobodyyy (@ooooaaaaooaa1) July 29, 2024
this is why kpop idols getting inspired by hiphop always feels inauthentic, the first thing that comes to their mind is either harmful stereotypes or surface level clichés pic.twitter.com/sBBGeTdhmo
— mr yaoi (@bamkkue) July 29, 2024
Rei has since apologised for her words and actions in a series of posts on fan community app Bubble. “I recogonise that I expressed myself poorly during a love broadcast watched by [fans] around the world, and I would like to sincerely apologise to [those] who were hurt by this incident,” she wrote in Korean, as translated by the app.
“As I communicate from now on, I will think about how every word I say makes [fans] feel, and I will become a Rei who can take responsibility and always deliver happiness [to my fans],” she added.
rei apologised about her latest live this morning. pic.twitter.com/hYB0FVdMIS
— rei pics (@picsnaoirei) July 31, 2024
Back in June, IVE spoke to NME about their debut UK concert, which was held at London’s The O2 on June 16, as part of the girl group’s 2024 ‘Show What I Have’ world tour.