Girl group NewJeans facing backlash for its risky fashion choices

K-pop

Published: 28 Jul. 2022, 17:32

Girl group NewJeans facing backlash for its risky fashion choices

Scenes from girl group NewJeans music video [YOUTUBE]

Upcoming girl group NewJeans faces is already facing backlash — and it hasn't even officially debuted.

The controversy stems from footage of the group’s music video for its song “Attention,” the lead track of its upcoming debut album, which was released on July 22. The title of the album has not been revealed yet.

In the scenes, members Hanni and Hye-in, aged 17 and 14, can be seen dancing in a stadium wearing cropped, strapless tops which some are saying are inappropriate for such young singers.

Selfie uploaded by Min-ji of girl group NewJeans [INSTAGRAM]

More backlash arose after another member, Min-ji, uploaded a selfie wearing a crop short with the phrase “Pimp is Yours.” Pimp, a slang from the United States trending between the 1970s and 80s, can mean to make something more showy or impressive, but can also mean a man who controls prostitutes.

It is not the first time a girl group under HYBE is facing controversy over its choice of clothing. When HYBE’s first girl group Le Sserafim debuted, the girl group’s fashion was considered to be provocative.

NewJeans make its official debut on Monday. The girl group sets a unique precedent in the sense that it has already dropped two music videos — “Attention” and “Hype Boy” — before its debut while most new K-pop groups announce their debut with teaser images and clips.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]