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Stray Kids Fans Outraged At Met Gala Photographers’ Treatment Of K-Pop Band
Fans of the K-pop group Stray Kids are demanding Vogue Magazine take action against a group of photographers who allegedly displayed racist and disrespectful behavior to members of the band at the Met Gala.
On Monday night (May 6), the South Korean band Stray Kids made history by becoming the first K-pop group to attend fashion’s biggest night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
After much anticipation from their fans, all eight members of the group— Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N—arrived at the event, looking sharp in their Tommy Hilfiger suits and coats. The band has previously collaborated with the American designer label, starring in a campaign earlier this year.
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Stray Kids made history on Monday (May 6) by becoming the first K-pop group to attend the prestigious Met Gala
Image credits: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Despite the enthusiasm for Stray Kids attending the prestigious event, people were indignant at the paparazzi’s treatment of the men as they posed for photos beneath the white-and-green steps.
A viral video captures a group of photographers criticizing the artists’ facial expressions. One of them can be heard saying, “I’ve never seen so many unemotional faces before,” to which another one responded, “They’re like robots.”
When the men removed their coats to reveal their suits, preparing for another round of pictures, the first photographer yelled out, “Now, let’s do it with feelings!” He then turned to his colleague mockingly, saying, “They’re gonna start performing, right? Everybody, jump!”
Despite the enthusiasm for the group’s attendance, fans denounced the “racist” remarks directed at the men by a pair of photographers present at the event
This was supposed to be a happy event. We were excited to see Stray Kids take the runway because they are GLOBAL ICONS to have blatant racism, rudeness, and unprofessionalism by so many people in the industry is appalling. This should not have happened.
STRAY KIDS DESERVED… pic.twitter.com/a6EX7sECUh
— ♡ Dae Bang ♡ (@skztinypixie) May 6, 2024
Fans of the group took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their outrage at the paparazzi comments.
“This was supposed to be a happy event. We were excited to see Stray Kids take the runway because they are GLOBAL ICONS; to have blatant racism, rudeness, and unprofessionalism by so many people in the industry is appalling. This should not have happened,” wrote user @skztinypixie.
“STRAY KIDS DESERVED BETTER. We ask @voguemagazine #MetGala to make this right and to handle this professionally. A formal apology for how rude each photographer was. Stray Kids understand English, you dunces,” the post continued.
“They understood every word you said, and that breaks my heart because they were looking forward to this event.”
The Met Gala, held annually on the first Monday of May, is organized and presided over by Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor-in-chief.
It is not clear whether the photographers were hired by the event’s organizers directly or what company they responded to.
In a viral clip, the photographers can be heard mockingly comparing the artists to “robots” and asking whether the men would “jump” and “perform“
Image credits: Cindy Ord/MG24/Getty Images
The situation led many to believe that the comments were motivated by racism and xenophobia.
“Western reporters can be super disrespectful to foreign artists (especially if they’re Asian). I stopped being surprised long ago after seeing how some of them used to cover BTS and K-pop in general,” someone said.
“It’s just so embarrassing to see such old people act like children. Your job is to just keep quiet, take pictures, and go. There’s no need for this racism and hate,” another person wrote.
“I don’t care if paparazzi are supposed to be rude or not. I just know that what they did is called racism, and it has to be punished,” a third X user agreed.
With more than 8 million monthly listeners on platforms such as Spotify and more than 29 million followers on Instagram, Stray Kids is ranked as one of the most popular K-pop groups in the world.
During an interview on the red carpet with the South Korean group, designer Tommy Hilfiger accidentally revealed that the eight-piece band will embark upon a 40-city tour soon.
“What they did is called racism and it has to be punished,” a fan demanded
What do you think ?
Mimi La Souris 6 months ago
real question, could you explain to me what is racist in his comments ? I see some kpop clips and interviews in Korean TV shows, they looks very organized, very formatted, there is not much natural, spontaneous for me so their attitudes are not a surprise, they look cold. and this moment of the gala is about extravaganza, show, excessiveness, they don’t match the mood. I understand the paparazzi asks for some action. i miss something ?
Carole Ansperger 6 months ago (edited)
One of the reporters shouted "arigato" to them (it wasn't shown on the video, but it happened a few seconds later) and suggesting they are to start performing - these were clearly racist stereotypes. And the photographers apparently forgot that they were a globally renowned group and hence they understood English, not to mention two native English speakers. Respect for them that they haven't snapped. I probably would if I were in this situation.
The lesbian knitting panda 6 months ago
I heard that when they were taking off their coats someone said 'I'm going to get covid'
Load More Replies...
Ross “Sarcastic Dad” 6 months ago
This feels way down the list of things we should be outraged about.
Ross “Sarcastic Dad” 6 months ago
Watch out! Weasel the morality police will get mad at you!
Load More Replies...
Hyunjinswife143% real 6 months ago
100% Bangchan (one of the australian members) said on bubble(an app for the members to "text" STAY or their fanbase) "we had such a great time everyone treated us so respectfully 😊." Two of the members are australian, one is considered British because he was taught fluent english by a british person, and they al could understand what they were saying.
Load More Replies...
Zoe Sample 6 months ago
the way they treated them was disgusting and they deserved to be there but the way those photographers treated them, especially at their FIRST met gala was absolutely cruel.
Lily Anne 6 months ago
I know I’ll be downvoted, but I’d like to explain what was racist: it was the attitude. No other celebrity( mostly white ) received such rude shoutings, openly showing their dissatisfaction with the stars, talking about unemotional faces, yelling “ Jump” as if they are talking to circus animals, alluring that foreign guests don’t speak English, and sending them off with “ As you were!”. Many other guests chose not to smile, like Kylie Jenner, for example- would anyone dare to tell her she is unemotional? Did anyone say to Zendaya to jump? Did anyone sent Nicole Kidman with “As you were!”. Stray kids were representing Asian pop scene , as well as the new collection of famous designer. They were there to be the diversity in almost white MET gala.They were , above all, guests just like the rest of the celebrities.
Robin Roper 6 months ago
They definitely didn't understand attendees are to dress to the theme.
Hyunjinswife143% real 6 months ago
thats not skz's fault thats Hilfiger's problem. they didn't dress themselves
Load More Replies...
DamnBecky 6 months ago
To be fair, could the photogs have been more polite? Sure. But the band was also there to do a job and POSING FOR PICTURES IN THE THEME OF THE EVENT is kinda their job. Its the Met Costume Gala, you are supposed to vamp, show the clothes etc. That is why the designers pay 50k a head to get celebs tickets. You have to have a connection with a fashion house and be sponsored to go, its not a whoever wants to situation. In conclusion, paparazzi have always been trash but the band has to pull their weight too like everyone else at the party did by vamping for the camera.
Dejah Roberts 6 months ago
What does that have to do with this when they're doing exactly that?
Load More Replies... Mimi La Souris 6 months ago
real question, could you explain to me what is racist in his comments ? I see some kpop clips and interviews in Korean TV shows, they looks very organized, very formatted, there is not much natural, spontaneous for me so their attitudes are not a surprise, they look cold. and this moment of the gala is about extravaganza, show, excessiveness, they don’t match the mood. I understand the paparazzi asks for some action. i miss something ?
Carole Ansperger 6 months ago (edited)
One of the reporters shouted "arigato" to them (it wasn't shown on the video, but it happened a few seconds later) and suggesting they are to start performing - these were clearly racist stereotypes. And the photographers apparently forgot that they were a globally renowned group and hence they understood English, not to mention two native English speakers. Respect for them that they haven't snapped. I probably would if I were in this situation.
The lesbian knitting panda 6 months ago
I heard that when they were taking off their coats someone said 'I'm going to get covid'
Load More Replies... Ross “Sarcastic Dad” 6 months ago
This feels way down the list of things we should be outraged about.
Ross “Sarcastic Dad” 6 months ago
Watch out! Weasel the morality police will get mad at you!
Load More Replies... Hyunjinswife143% real 6 months ago
100% Bangchan (one of the australian members) said on bubble(an app for the members to "text" STAY or their fanbase) "we had such a great time everyone treated us so respectfully 😊." Two of the members are australian, one is considered British because he was taught fluent english by a british person, and they al could understand what they were saying.
Load More Replies... Zoe Sample 6 months ago
the way they treated them was disgusting and they deserved to be there but the way those photographers treated them, especially at their FIRST met gala was absolutely cruel.
Lily Anne 6 months ago
I know I’ll be downvoted, but I’d like to explain what was racist: it was the attitude. No other celebrity( mostly white ) received such rude shoutings, openly showing their dissatisfaction with the stars, talking about unemotional faces, yelling “ Jump” as if they are talking to circus animals, alluring that foreign guests don’t speak English, and sending them off with “ As you were!”. Many other guests chose not to smile, like Kylie Jenner, for example- would anyone dare to tell her she is unemotional? Did anyone say to Zendaya to jump? Did anyone sent Nicole Kidman with “As you were!”. Stray kids were representing Asian pop scene , as well as the new collection of famous designer. They were there to be the diversity in almost white MET gala.They were , above all, guests just like the rest of the celebrities.
Robin Roper 6 months ago
They definitely didn't understand attendees are to dress to the theme.
Hyunjinswife143% real 6 months ago
thats not skz's fault thats Hilfiger's problem. they didn't dress themselves
Load More Replies... DamnBecky 6 months ago
To be fair, could the photogs have been more polite? Sure. But the band was also there to do a job and POSING FOR PICTURES IN THE THEME OF THE EVENT is kinda their job. Its the Met Costume Gala, you are supposed to vamp, show the clothes etc. That is why the designers pay 50k a head to get celebs tickets. You have to have a connection with a fashion house and be sponsored to go, its not a whoever wants to situation. In conclusion, paparazzi have always been trash but the band has to pull their weight too like everyone else at the party did by vamping for the camera.
Dejah Roberts 6 months ago
What does that have to do with this when they're doing exactly that?
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