BIGHIT MUSIC’s rookie boy group CORTIS has found itself at the center of online controversy following a recent TikTok upload, prompting intense debate and comparisons to KISS OF LIFE’s past scandal.
The video, shared as a Christmas-themed TikTok, shows the CORTIS members roaming around the HYBE building while lip-syncing to “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” Rather than a simple holiday lip-sync, the members leaned into exaggerated movements, hand signs, and playful antics while wearing ski masks, sunglasses, and oversized pants.
While some viewers saw the clip as harmless fun, many netizens reacted negatively, criticizing the video as an insensitive parody of Black culture. The backlash quickly escalated, with fans drawing parallels to KISS OF LIFE’s controversial livestream in the past an incident that significantly impacted the girl group’s public image during their rise.
Online discussions questioned why the reactions to CORTIS appeared less severe. Some argued that being backed by a powerhouse company like HYBE offered the group a level of protection from harsher criticism, while others suggested that differing standards between boy groups and girl groups rooted in misogyny played a role in the contrast.
Supporters of CORTIS pushed back, insisting that the TikTok did not cross the same lines as KISS OF LIFE’s livestream and should not be equated to it. However, fans of KISS OF LIFE countered that the girl group had acknowledged their mistake, issued an apology, and taken responsibility steps that CORTIS have yet to take, despite reportedly being called out over similar concerns in the past.
As the clip continues to circulate across social media platforms, negative sentiment toward CORTIS remains dominant. With opinions sharply divided, the situation has reignited broader conversations about cultural sensitivity, accountability, and double standards within the K-pop industry.
Sources: Koreaboo
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