On April 4, 2025, during a concert in Manila, KISS OF LIFE’s Julie was visibly emotional as a heartfelt message from local fans was shared. This moment was poignant yet controversial, given the group had recently faced backlash following a livestream marking Julie’s birthday on April 2, 2025.
The livestream sparked significant criticism when KISS OF LIFE exhibited racially insensitive stereotypes, leading fans to accuse them of cultural appropriation. This incident occurred right before the commencement of the Philippines leg of their KISS ROAD world tour, intensifying the scrutiny surrounding the group.
Despite expectations for a subdued performance due to the ongoing controversy, a video from the concert finale spread quickly online, resulting in a mixed response from fans. The reasons behind Julie’s emotional display remain ambiguous, with some commentators suggesting she was merely seeking sympathy in light of the backlash.
“They’re f*cking pathetic crying sympathy tears when they can’t even actually address the modern day blackface they knew was doing,”an X user commented.
Responses to Julie’s tears varied widely, with many users expressing criticism of her emotional reaction amidst the ongoing backlash about KISS OF LIFE’s actions. Comments highlighted the conflict between the artist’s need for support and the perceived insincerity of her display.
“She’s trying so hard to squeeze out them tears for sympathy points. Imagine an artist who has garnered support from so many Black people treating our culture like a costume for her birthday party,”a fan remarked.
“She realizes she’s not entering charts with twerking now,”a user mentioned.
“Want to feel bad, but girl did this herself… ain’t nobody asked for a birthday party with that theme,”a person shared.
Conversely, numerous supporters defended Julie, attributing the criticism to underlying misogyny and lack of empathy.
“Her pushing back tears to continue talking is heartbreaking to watch. She deserves better support from her fans amidst the chaos,”a netizen expressed.
“I don’t condone what they did, but her tears weren’t about playing the victim; they were a response to the surprise from the fans,”a viewer commented.
“It’s shocking that people are mocking a woman’s tears. This reveals a disturbing trend of internalized racism and misogyny,”another fan added.
Understanding the KISS OF LIFE Birthday Livestream Controversy
The controversy originated from a livestream celebrating Julie’s birthday on April 2, 2025. The retro hip-hop themed event led to widespread accusations of cultural appropriation.
During the livestream, band members donned extravagant gold chains, caps, and hairstyles reminiscent of cornrows and Bantu knots—styles deeply embedded in Black culture. Their attempts at dancing and freestyle rapping were perceived as reinforcing stereotypes, igniting further backlash.
As clips from the stream circulated, the group’s reputation suffered. S2 Entertainment, which manages KISS OF LIFE, issued an official apology, but many found it lacking authenticity, leading to the silencing or closing of several fan pages in protest.
In response to the uproar, KISS OF LIFE released a handwritten apology on April 5, 2025. While some fans viewed this as a step in the right direction, others argued it failed to hold the group accountable for their actions.
This controversy has had tangible effects on KISS OF LIFE’s popularity. Reports from Pinkvilla indicated a steep decline in their followers, losing over 56,000 on Instagram within 48 hours and a staggering 100,000 on TikTok, along with 8,000 YouTube subscribers, as numerous fan pages stopped posting or shut down entirely.
KISS OF LIFE commenced their Asian leg of the KISS ROAD tour shortly after these events, performing across nine cities, including Bangkok, Singapore, Macau, Yokohama, Osaka, and Manila. They are also scheduled to appear at the Sziget Festival in Hungary in August 2025.