G-Dragon's Camp Says K-Pop Star Wasn't Wearing Blackface

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Says Trayvon Martin-like Instagram photo was both "HUGE misunderstanding" and reference to cover art from Big Bang mastermind's next solo effort



An Instagram photo of South Korean pop idol G-Dragon wearing what appears to be a hoodie and dark coloring over his skin was not meant as a comment on race or politics, according to a rep for the Big Bang leader.

"GD was simply wearing different facepaint colors and this is a HUGE misunderstanding," the spokesperson said in an email to SPIN. "The facepaint is only a color variation for his album cover which includes black, white, and red. It is in no way meant to be a political or racial statement."

The rep further clarified, "It’s being derived by a simple photo shoot where GD was using different facepaint colors for his upcoming album."

G-Dragon's spokesperson also said SPIN's article reporting on the image "is completely wrong and taken out of context."

The response comes after we reported on the photo, noting its resemblance to an iconic image of slain Florida youth Trayvon Martin and pointing out that it had drawn criticism online. Though the singer's Instagram account made no mention of Martin, the image bears an eerie similiarity to a meme that had Frank Ocean, Diddy, the-Dream, and others posting photos of themselves in a hoodie last year. (Rap-Up has a good collection of these Martin-inspired images.) Online forums Oh No They Didn't! and One Asian World previously pointed out an alleged connection to the Martin tributes.

G-Dragon is set to appear at KCON 2013, a K-pop convention in Los Angeles on August 24 and 25, and he is readying a new solo album. G-Dragon's 2012 "Crayon" was SPIN's No. 1 K-pop song of the year. His group Big Bang's "Bad Boy" was one of SPIN's 21 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time. Check out our coverage of a Big Bang concert in New Jersey here.

The original Instagram photo is below:

That's some Justin Bieber level of PR...

EDIT:
the official omona twitter has shared our open letter with authors from spin and the la times who wrote articles about GD.

Spin

Comments

[atenais-pala.livejournal.com]

It's a pleasure to discuss delicate topics with polite people.

I got your point and it's the reason why I said he was being silly. From the bottom of my heart I don't believe he was trying to offend black people since he openly admires African American artists. I was just saying that sometimes it's annoying to see how US expects people to work by its rules.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I saw the begining of that MV and just turn off my computer
Not here for that bullshit and those sickening lyrics

[nemo-011.livejournal.com]

How is thinking it was a face mask far-fetched? there wasn't any caption or anything on the photo

[atenais-pala.livejournal.com]

"I just think it's disgusting Martin got dragged into this."
I agree. People doing a circus in K-Pop fandom is something I'm used to, but to drag a young boy on this is really disgusting. And I really doubt that people are really worried about the racist implications of the topic, they are just being haters, as usual.

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

it's like that in every homologous country (that is not made up of black people). i come from a country predominantly made up of white people and the amount of racism here is also pretty bad.

[0ddie13.livejournal.com]

ok, so i didn't even know kpop existed when those other incidents happened, did he get called for it? like, was there a scandal that reached him, and he or his company have to address it? just curious.

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

idg why everyone hates her. she's a bit ott but she's still right.

[opd-top.livejournal.com]

Oh boy. Not only didn't they do their research (mixed up TOP & GD in the pic, GD didn't say it was tribute etc) but they took everything from an (mostly) inaccurate article on ONTD of all places.

& the comments are making me very sad. I stopped at the 3rd one.

[45s.livejournal.com]

THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

like he could have even posted all three colours and it would not be blown out of proportion. or you know, caption shit.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Likewise^^


"I was just saying that sometimes it's annoying to see how US expects people to work by its rules"

It is... difficult, but that's the price for mondialisation
We just need to share more and be more aware of each other without loosing our roots and heritage

[0ddie13.livejournal.com]

Yup, it was just the perfect opportunity to plant hate.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I don't think it was as big as this but I know a few people send him tweets, emails, letters... so idk

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Oppa once saw a black person at the supermarket okay, and he didn't run away screaming, he's not racist.

[45s.livejournal.com]

it's so frustrating bc like, if western media can't get them right, why bother believing they get black ppl right?

[kotetsu.livejournal.com]

mostly because face masks do not cover your close to lips or get nearly that close to eyelids. it'd be a risk of them peeling off and hurting you, or just generally getting into your eyes. especially with something as damaging as a "charcoal" mask ppl were trying to claim it to be.

[45s.livejournal.com]

she's funny as hell though but everything she's submitted has been well researched and written.

so i'm not even mad at the kid

[atenais-pala.livejournal.com]

Yeah... *sight*

[contralilium.livejournal.com]

this is funny and sad

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

mte and when you point out stuff like this you're too pc or a party pooper. you can't win.

[45s.livejournal.com]

bc as everyone said, you don't put a mask over your eyelids and lips.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

Oppa likes Rhianna, he can't engage in stereotypes against African Americans

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

C'mon try harder. Atleast say he was cosplaying Nick Fury. Look Sharp.

[undeniablysarah.livejournal.com]

100% Agree

[atenais-pala.livejournal.com]

I believe they're talking about some pics, for Vogue, when BB dressed up as international artists, as Justin Timberlake, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson and others.

[spread.livejournal.com]

So brave and fearless~
A true Kpop idol...