Kiss of Life Pulls Out of KCON LA — And Fans Have A Lot to Say (Kiss of Life x KCON LA 2025 controversy)
What was supposed to be a major milestone for rookie girl group Kiss of Life just turned into one of the biggest fan-driven controversies leading up to KCON LA 2025.
The group, known for their confident image and boundary-pushing style, was originally set to perform at this year’s KCON in Los Angeles — a huge opportunity considering how early they are in their career. But as of this week, Kiss of Life has officially pulled out of the lineup, and the reason why has the internet lit up with both criticism and conversation.
What Happened?
The drama began when teaser visuals from a recent Kiss of Life performance circulated online, showing the members wearing outfits that many fans felt were inspired by traditional American HipHop motifs. The group had also performed choreography and styling reminiscent of 2000s U.S. hip-hop culture — something that, while common in K-pop, is always a lightning rod for cultural conversation.
Shortly after those images went viral, fans on platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit began accusing the group (or more precisely, their stylists and label) of cultural appropriation. Some called the styling “tone-deaf,” especially given the group’s upcoming appearance in a U.S.-based festival like KCON LA, which draws a diverse, global crowd — many of whom are deeply aware of how culture is represented on stage.
Why They Withdrew
While the group themselves didn’t give a personal statement, their label S2 Entertainment issued a short official update confirming Kiss of Life would not appear at KCON LA “due to scheduling changes.” Fans weren’t buying it.
Many believe the real reason for the withdrawal was a behind-the-scenes decision to avoid the growing backlash. With hashtags trending like #KissofLifeApologize, it’s not hard to imagine the label wanting to dodge any on-site protests, awkward Q&A moments, or live disruptions at the festival.
The Fan Reaction Is Split
As always in K-pop, fandoms aren’t a monolith. Some international fans — particularly those from the hiphop communities — have expressed anger and disappointment, especially since this isn’t the first time a K-pop group has been called out for similar themes. Others, however, have defended the group, pointing to how styling decisions are often made by agencies, not the artists themselves, and urging others not to “cancel” a rookie group over choices they may not have controlled.
What’s clear is that this moment has sparked another round of important conversations around how K-pop interacts with Black, Indigenous, and other historically rooted cultures. And with Kiss of Life being so new, this controversy could follow them for a long time if it’s not addressed directly.
What This Means for KCON LA
KCON LA 2025 is still stacked with major names — including ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, and even a rumored surprise set by a former 2NE1 member. But Kiss of Life’s sudden removal has become a main character moment ahead of the event.
Organizers haven’t commented on the group’s withdrawal yet, but fans are definitely watching to see how the event handles these kinds of image and representation issues in the future — especially since KCON is meant to be a celebration of Korean pop across cultures.
Where CherryHill Stands
If you’ve been following CherryHill’s past coverage — from our breakdown of Lisa at the Oscars to Jennie’s solo Coachella moment — you already know we’re passionate about music that respects the culture it borrows from. We love bold visuals, we love genre fusion, and we’re not here to cancel — we’re here to challenge artists and labels to do better with love and accountability.
Kiss of Life is still a young group with huge potential. Whether this ends up being a learning moment or a long-term stain depends on what happens next. Will the label address the criticism? Will fans get a real statement? And will K-pop take a cue from its global fans and become more mindful of how it presents borrowed cultures?
Only time will tell — but one thing’s clear: fans are paying attention, and that’s how change starts.
