Was Paparazzi Being Racist Towards K-Pop Band?
Some people look for racism any chance they can get:
As a K-pop fan, I was delighted that Stray Kids were attending the Met Gala on May 6, 2024. K-pop fans generally and Stays (the name of Stray Kids’ fandom) specifically celebrated the increasing inclusion of K-pop. Perhaps the US media now took K-pop seriously and would treat its artists respectfully.
We were wrong.
A few members of the paparazzi’s treatment of Stray Kids was shameful and racist, and embarrassed me as a fellow American. However, none of it was surprising and all of it was reminiscent of America’s history of racist treatment of Asian Americans.
I watched the behind-the-scenes footage shot by someone standing behind the photographers first posted on X and later to YouTube. Many K-pop fans have commented on this viral video. Below, I’ve transcribed what I could hear. It is loud in the room, and everyone is shouting. These lines are spoken by the photographers, but it was difficult to hear all of them. They are mostly shouting at the group members, but some commentary takes place amongst the photographers. My comments are in parentheses.
“How many are there? Guys, can you step back?”
“Guys, you need to be on the same level.”
“You all look crooked.”
“Get close. Move back, move back.”
“Can everybody face us? They’re diagonal.”
“Annyeonghaseyo” (mockingly).
“That guy is like 20,000 feet back.”
“We need them straight.”
Korea Herald
You can read the rest at the link or watch the video and judge for yourself, but in my opinion this all just the paparazzi being their normal rude selves. The paparazzi are well known for how rude they are and you can watch whole Youtube videos of this. Being rude doesn’t make you a racist unless your a sociology and professor of ethnicity, race and migration professor at Yale University where everything is viewed through a racist lens.
Grace is really graceless…
She is a horrid-looking thing with horrid-sounding thoughts.
I read that and very clearly heard photographers tying to get a good photo of a large group of people who were not cooperating (likely due to distraction and conflicting demands).
I heard zero racism.
I have done a lot of modeling photography and still do it a few times a year. I assure you professional models are worth it. Most women CANNOT sit still or follow instructions.
I yell abuse at them until they comply.
I good photographer knows exactly what is needed and can direct a good model into the correct pose.
These photographers knew exactly what they wanted… a straight line of guys, close together, perpendicular to the photographers, with lively expressions.
I would have yelled the same thing.
But I would have added, “Do as I say and you guys look like gods. Ignore my commands and you will not be proud to see yourselves.”