Japanese influencer sparks backlash with 'slant-eye' parody of ATEEZ member San
Japanese influencer Gamix, who went viral for sobbing after Japan's defeat at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has sparked controversy after making a gesture widely considered racist toward East Asians while parodying ATEEZ member San's viral "BAD" challenge. Gamix uploaded a video to his social media account Thursday in which he recreated the choreography from ATEEZ's "BAD," a viral trend that has…
Influencer Gamix, who recently went viral after crying following Japan's loss in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has faced backlash for a gesture he used while parodying ATEEZ member San's popular "BAD" challenge. Gamix shared a video on his social media platform on Thursday, showcasing his recreation of the dance moves from ATEEZ's "BAD" song.
During the video, a picture of San was displayed at the bottom of the screen. Gamix employed both hands to move the outer corners of his eyes in a manner that has been widely recognized as a racist act targeting East Asians. This gesture, known as "slant-eye," is often used to make fun of the physical appearance of individuals from East Asia.
The fact that Gamix is also of East Asian descent added to the criticism, with some viewers questioning why a Japanese creator would use such a gesture while impersonating a Korean K-pop artist. Online commenters expressed their disapproval, with remarks like "Is he making fun of himself?", "Does he think he's Western?", and "I don't even know where to begin with this." As the controversy escalated, Gamix deleted the video from his social media account.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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