Popular Fourth-Gen Idol Blasted For Cultural Appropriation During Solo Music Show Performance
Former CIX member Bae Jinyoung has sparked major fury with cultural appropriation during his recent performance.
Jinyoung recently released his solo track “Round&Round.”
On October 16, Jinyoung performed the track on M Countdown.
Yet, his look sparked major outrage, especially after the photos were posted on the M Countdown X page.
진영이가 예쁘고 멋지고 귀여운 거 모두가 알아야 하눙데,,✨
그래서 가져왔어요 셀카!!!!!아기 냥이 실수로 귀 덜 숨긴 것 같은데
모른척해 주자구요 💗#엠카운트다운 #MCOUNTDOWN#배진영 pic.twitter.com/JA6wPhB6Hp— M COUNTDOWN (@MnetMcountdown) October 16, 2025
Fans accused the idol of cultural appropriation with his brades, sharing how embarassing it was for a Korean idol to have that hairstyle.
just so distasteful & embarrassing …
is your desire to perpetrate cultural appropriation for the sake of achieving the ‘hip hop aesthetic’ worth ruining your international reputation and credibility? not to mention the amount of fans you’ve disappointed and the mass emails… https://t.co/JQEh26raRz pic.twitter.com/fPWSLp5h30
— 디아🪽 (@yongheeluvbot) October 16, 2025
out of all hair…. https://t.co/SJyk1ZycCz
— j. (@cixfixkr) October 16, 2025
oh he really dgaf 😭😭 https://t.co/v4haoFXliU
— bx enthusiast (@cixodus) October 16, 2025
It also sparked ridicule.
My only question is are these box braids or cornrows and pending the answer, how many braids does he have in his head bc LMAOOOOOO https://t.co/LsYHVQ8Kuf
— Skyy (ᓀ‸ᓂ ) ☽̶☾ | 🎂10/20 bitch! pipe up! | (@d3aththekiddd) October 16, 2025
Yet, many fans shared how the cultural appropriation and lack of awareness had made them less excited about Jinyoung’s solo debut and his subsequent releases.
bae jinyoung,,, i thought so highly of you and wanted to support you til the end.
but now i’m seriously so hurt. i just want to be your fan and support you but this is betrayal .. i feel desperate and dumb hoping every day hoping you’ll address it, apologize and never do it…
— 디아🪽 (@yongheeluvbot) October 16, 2025
Jinyoung left CIX and lost his damn mind!!!
— cee ✨ (@defjaes_) October 17, 2025
i hate how he just doesn’t care .. like i was so excited for his solo debut and everything but ugh i just feel so icky
— quyên 🍥 (@lovebaejins) October 16, 2025
You can watch the full performance below.
