Met Gala photographers spark outrage after racist jokes about a K-Pop band
May 8, 2024
Dunja Đuđić Kalinin
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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The 2024 Met Gala was supposed to be a night of high fashion and celebrity glamour. But for K-Pop group Stray Kids, it turned sour thanks to insensitive and racist behavior from photographers. Fans erupted online after a TikTok video captured the disrespectful treatment the eight-member group received on the red carpet.
Clad in navy blue coats, Stray Kids made a grand entrance, only to be met with comments like “I’ve never seen so many unemotional faces in my life” and “They’re robots.” This blatant stereotyping sparked immediate outrage. But wait, there’s more. When the band members revealed their coordinated Tommy Hilfiger suits, photographers complained, “We gotta do it again.” You can hear one of them yelling, “Now, let’s do it with feeling!”
One photographer even asked a colleague, “How do you say ‘right’ in Korean?” thinking he was totally hilarious. Someone responded, “Arigato,” making the situation even more cringe-worthy. As the band walked away, photographers commented that fans would confuse the group with two separate bands due to the coat removal — a racist stereotype implying Asian people look alike.
The incident quickly went viral, with fans worldwide expressing disgust on social media under the hashtag #RespectStrayKids. The photographers’ childish antics overshadowed the group’s Met Gala debut and left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.
A message to disrespectful Met Gala photographers
Before I wrap up, I’d like to add some personal commentary. Okay, let’s be honest: it’s pure rant.
First of all, there is no need to say “right” in Korean – many of us who were born in other countries also speak English in addition to our native language. Some of us speak it better than certain native speakers, thanks to formal education and tons of books we’ve read. Let me know when you speak Korean as well as they speak English. Oh, and by the way – arigato is Japanese. I guess you really can’t tell Asian people apart, huh?
Speaking of telling Asian people apart, do you really think people will mix Stray Kids members for another band? I mean, really? And you find that joke so funny, you think you’re hilarious? Grow the hell up and stop using immature, racist jokes you used in elementary school. It wasn’t even funny then, especially now that you’re a grown man.
Finally, I have to say I’m really glad I’m not your publisher or employer. I’m so glad people like this don’t represent me or my business.
As you can see, this incident really struck a nerve. Not only in me personally, but in many people around the world. But other than annoying the crap out of so many of us, it highlights the need for inclusivity and cultural sensitivity in the entertainment industry. Hopefully, this will serve as a wake-up call for those who fail to recognize the importance of respect for all artists and all people, regardless of their background.
[via Daily Beast]
Dunja Đuđić Kalinin
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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4 responses to “Met Gala photographers spark outrage after racist jokes about a K-Pop band”
When has the Paparazzi ever been respectful? I guess wokesters expect skunks to not stink? Of all the places in the world, people (now) are expecting New Yorkers to be respectful? C’mon.
Of course, respect is only required for those who agree with you, not for those who don’t.
Years back I worked with a young Vietnamese “Boat Person”. He and his , who was captured and taken away by Taiwanese pirates never to be seen again, escaped from Vietnam as it fell into communist hands. During a conversation I stated that I found it difficult to determine precisely where an Asian person might be from. In reply he said that was easy. There is so much difference between a Vietnamese, mixes within that, and of course those from various other nations. He then continued that he could not see any differences between white people. “You all look alike.” Racist? I would suggest unfamiliarity would be the proper explanation. Other comments made aside, perhaps we should think of that.
The comments by no means rose to racism. It’s a photogrpahers job to illicit participation from a subject. Photographers yelling out things like Jump or Do it with feeling or SMILE is as old as red carpet events. The resulting virus of hate toward these photospheres who were just doing their job is what is so horrendous. Some of them received death threats and doxxing which is illegal.