NCT’s Hendery Under Fire For Racially Insensitive Hairstyle
While NCT and WayV member Hendery is typically known for bringing joy to fans with his funny antics, a set of photos he posted on Weibo has caused some fans to allege cultural appropriation and attempt to educate him on why they found it so upsetting.
In three of the photos, Hendery poses with fake dreads paired with a Rastafarian-inspired headband.
Although Hendery removed all of the photos from his Weibo page shortly after uploading them, that didn’t stop them from reaching fans.
Hendery’s name soon became a trending topic on Twitter as fans called attention to the hairstyle and the fact that other fans attempted to dismiss their concerns altogether.
please do not clear hendery's searches. even if the case is that he wasn't aware it would hurt people, sweeping his ignorance under the rug will not help him know better.
— 𝐖𝐊𝐇 (@henderysource) December 4, 2020
what hendery did is inexcusable and he should not be protected i see too many of you defending him when he hasn’t even defended himself,, i understand how sm is and may not let him apologize but what he did was wrong and he should be educated on this and learn from it pic.twitter.com/eJ3wBKIMYs
— ᴮᴱgeo⁷𖧵IN生₁₂₇⟭⟬ᵒᵗ²¹ (@_jayyyyyhope) December 4, 2020
Since Hendery may not have known about why the wig was viewed as cultural appropriation, many fans sought to educate him on it.
They pointed out that cultural appropriation is common among many K-Pop groups—whether intentional or not—and wanted to give him and other idols the tools to be extra careful and respectful of other cultures.
hendery’s hat is a perfect example of cultural appropriation. and what i mean by that is, hendery mentioned how he could take off the hat as he pleased while black people with locs/dreads get openly discriminated against and can’t simply “take out” their hair
— ً (@idleworlds) December 4, 2020
ok so why are nctizens clearing the searches under hendery?? stop dismissing something HE did. HE chose to cultural appropriate not only that but HE posted it on weibo. sm didn’t make him wear anything. hold your idols accountable stop dismissing shit pic.twitter.com/Rc5pTBDsp1
— nova!/// semi ia (@tchjjk) December 4, 2020
As of now, neither SM Entertainment nor Hendery has responded to the matter.
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