Japanese influencer deletes video after ‘racist’ gesture aimed at Ateez’s San — then faces fresh backlash

On August 21, a popular Japanese Instagram influencer named Gamix found himself embroiled in controversy after posting a video that appeared to display a racist eye gesture while mocking Ateez member San. The influencer, who boasts over two million followers, uploaded a clip recreating San's recent dance performance to the song Bad.

Gamix donned a shirt resembling the Atletico Madrid jersey San wore during a ceremonial kick-off at Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 9, along with displaying a photo of the K-pop star in the jersey at the bottom of the video. However, after briefly mimicking San's choreography, Gamix made what many deemed to be a racist caricature of East Asian people by pulling the corners of his eyes outward with his fingers.

The clip quickly drew criticism online, leading Gamix to delete it without providing a public explanation for his decision. The controversy did not end there; Gamix later posted another video in which he narrowed his eyes and claimed that, being Asian, his eyes do not open properly in the morning. Instead of quelling the criticism, this follow-up only fueled more anger among Korean online communities.

Some users questioned whether Gamix was attempting to downplay the original gesture as a joke rather than recognizing why it was offensive or issuing an apology. Gamix had previously gained international attention for an entirely different incident, where footage showed him crying in the stands after Japan's defeat at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.