K-pop, a global sensation, has given light to popular artists and songs such as PSY’s “Gangnam Style,” BTS’ “Dynamite,” and BLACKPINK’s “Kill This Love.” While this popular music genre has exponentially gained fans throughout the years, there’s a dark side to K-pop. K-pop idols have been criticized for appropriating cultures over the years. They deserve this criticism for their racist and xenophobic actions.

Cultural appropriation is the act of offensively taking and using parts of minority groups’ cultures including saying culturally offensive slurs, wearing Black hairstyles, misusing cultural clothing and objects, and mocking cultural dances. Many K-pop idols and groups are notorious for appropriating African, Native American, Hispanic, and South Asian cultures.

Popular groups such as BTS have been under fire for cultural appropriation. RM, the leader of the group, said his talent was “Black English” during an interview and wore Black hairstyles such as dreads when the group first debuted.

BLACKPINK has mocked the Bharatanatyam (an Indian classical dance) in their promotional video for “Kill This Love.” In addition, in the same video, member Jennie wore South Asian jewelry including a bindi and maang tikka. Lisa, another member, repeatedly wore box braids and cornrows, as seen in her music video for “MONEY” in her most recent solo album, “LALISA.” Other soloists like G-Dragon and members from various K-pop groups such as TWICE, Stray Kids, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, ATEEZ, and (G)-IDLE have similarly appropriated cultures in interviews, promotional videos, and music videos.

Many fans have shifted the blame on idols’ acts of cultural appropriation to their stylists and claim that the idols had nothing to do with it. Others have claimed that idols are automatically off-the-hook if they have apologized for their actions.

However, idols should still be held accountable for their actions. Many, if not all, idols are well-educated but still proceed with their acts of cultural appropriation in front of their fans and audiences including saying slurs such as the N-word. Ultimately, these acts of cultural appropriation only contribute to further marginalizing minority groups.

Fans shouldn’t excuse their idols’ acts of cultural appropriation when they aren’t involved in the cultures and ethnicities that are being appropriated. This isn’t suggesting that fans shouldn’t listen to K-pop groups’ music. Moreover, fans need to hold idols accountable to ensure that their acts of cultural appropriation are known in order to prevent similar racist and xenophobic actions from spreading within the K-pop industry.