(G)I-DLE has been receiving criticism for their lifeguard-themed outfits worn during the Klaxon performance at Music Bank on July 19.
The group is facing backlash for sexualizing lifeguards, on top of that, they are embroiled in an even bigger controversy, the use of the Red Cross without permission.
As the criticism grew, (G)I-DLE’s agency apologized for the controversial outfit and use of the Red Cross on July 22.
The agency stated, “We would like to inform you about the stage costumes for (G)I-DLE’s ‘Klaxon’ on KBS 2TV’s ‘Music Bank’, which aired on July 19.”
Cube Entertainment admitted oversight with the costumes, stating, “We recognized that there was a problem with the stage costumes. We are in contact with the Korean Red Cross and are actively discussing prevention of recurrence and follow-up measures after the apology.”
Lastly, they apologized for the inconvenience and asked fans to support (G)I-DLE and look forward to their activities.
The lifeguard concept for the Music Bank performance sparked controversy when they wore outfits featuring the Red Cross emblem, potentially violating the law. The logo’s unauthorized use is prohibited, as stated in Article 25 of the Korean Red Cross Organization Act, which requires approval from the Red Cross for any use of the emblem.
On another note, (G)I-DLE is set to kick off their world tour, i-DOL on August 3-4 in Seoul, South Korea followed by shows in other Asian countries, the US, and Australia.