Popular Idols Reveal Company Ignored Warnings Against Dressing Member In Culturally Offensive Look
Recently, it was announced that THE BOYZ would be making a comeback with their 10th mini album a;effect.
With the group’s recent controversies, including the sudden and currently contested expulsion of Ju Haknyeon, many had mixed feelings about the release announcement. Still, the album rollout has continued as scheduled.
In teaser content shared earlier this month, fans noticed that member New appeared to be wearing a durag.
A durag is a protective hair garment typically worn by Black people. Despite the criticism individuals face when wearing them, durags have evolved to be part of Black fashion culture.
Thus, when non-black individuals attempt to claim these items as anything but what they are and are praised for doing so, they are accused of cultural appropriation.
Naturally, fans called out the company over the styling, taking steps to ensure they would be heard.
kicking out a member and releasing a cb right after u can NOT be more insensitive wtf. also making chanhee wear a durag is jst another proof that this fucking company is setting them all up https://t.co/ph8cDHNIW7
— neocity (@taeyongsrg) July 24, 2025
📢 Chanhee Email Template!
bc black culture isn’t a concept you can just put on when you want to be “stylish”
📧 onehundred.fan@gmail.com#더보이즈 #THEBOYZ #뉴 #NEW #최찬희 #aeffect #Stylish https://t.co/2vEs4wj9CO
— bre (@kyuskindle) July 24, 2025
As it turns out, fans were not the only ones who spoke up against the styling.
On July 25, Jacob and Kevin went live, where they brought up the situation.
According to the two idols, they saw the initial outfits the members were supposed to wear and warned the company. However, the stylists shared a differing opinion and went along with it.
Upon seeing the final product, Kevin told them that it looked too much like a durag, and promised that the production would cut out as much as possible.
kevin and jacob addressed the durag situation:
both kevin and jacob have voiced their opinions about this to the management way before, but apparently the stylists thought it was more like a beanie with legs. when kevin later saw the final product, he still thought it looked too… pic.twitter.com/EvEoyShddG
— ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ (@mooneybees) July 25, 2025
Many netizens expressed shock over the group’s company ignoring the warning directly from the idols and anger that the group’s English speaking members were the ones addressing it instead of ONE HUNDRED.
this entire situation is so ridiculous and could’ve been avoided so easily and also sucks knowing kevin and jacob felt the need to address it because they know 100 won’t https://t.co/oIL9JJlsNk
— ً (@champagnekuri) July 25, 2025
so they expressed how it looked too similar to a durag yet the company ignored these concerns during pre-production/production, only to take in account the concerns during post-production? 100 i’m afraid you want to sabotage them https://t.co/iPiupSazB5
— J (@httpsjyh) July 25, 2025
Why would you not listen to your artist's feedback? Especially over something being perceived as a durag 🤨
Poor decison by both the stylists and the management team. https://t.co/3tKcJ4iNyK
— Queen V 💚 (@KpopWithV) July 25, 2025
