G-Dragon Sparks Controversy Over T-Shirt With Racial Slur... Agency Issues Sincere Apology
Controversy Over Racially Discriminatory Phrase on Outfit at Macau Performance
Global Fans Voice Criticism; Agency Issues Official Apology
Singer G-Dragon's agency has issued an official apology after he sparked controversy by wearing an outfit with a phrase that could be interpreted as racially discriminatory during an overseas performance.
On May 2, G-Dragon took the stage at the "K-SPARK in Macau" K-pop concert, held at the Macau Outdoor Performance Venue. At the time, he performed wearing a long T-shirt layered with a short jacket.
The controversy arose from the Dutch phrase printed on the T-shirt. The shirt displayed the phrase "RONNY, EEN GEILE NEGER__ JONGEN," in which "EEN GEILE" means "sexually excited," and "NEGER" is a racially derogatory term used to refer to Black people.
During the performance, part of the phrase was covered by the jacket, but when G-Dragon turned around, the lower part of the T-shirt was exposed, causing the controversy to spread further.
After the performance, criticism mounted online regarding the inappropriateness of the outfit. On social networking services (SNS), comments included, "The outfit should have been properly checked," and, "As an artist performing on a global stage, he should have been more careful." Some international fans also left comments on G-Dragon's official SNS accounts demanding an explanation.
As the controversy intensified, G-Dragon's agency, Galaxy Corporation, issued a statement of apology on May 4. The agency stated, "We sincerely apologize for the inclusion of a phrase that was socially and culturally inappropriate on the artist's performance outfit at the Macau K-SPARK event on May 2."
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The statement continued, "Through this incident, we have recognized once again the importance of careful cultural sensitivity and responsible review. We will thoroughly examine and improve our internal procedures, including styling reviews and checks." The agency also added, "We will approach our work with even greater responsibility and attention to detail to ensure that the diverse cultural backgrounds and values of global fans are respected."
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