K-Pop Festival Faces Backlash Over Religious Imagery
Offensive Visuals During Performance Spark Outrage
A recent performance at the 2025 Waterbomb Music Festival in Seoul, South Korea, has ignited controversy. The issue? Allegedly inappropriate religious imagery displayed during a set, causing a wave of criticism online.
Performance Provokes Criticism
The performance by **DJ Neo** and **Aster**, featuring comedian **Lee Jui**, has drawn intense scrutiny following the appearance of a mosque image and the word “Allah” in the background visuals as they performed the song ‘Like Jennie’ with Sexy Dancers.
Critics immediately took to social media. This prompted **DJ Neo** to issue a statement clarifying that he had no prior knowledge of the visuals. According to him, the visual elements were managed by a separate team.
“The video was not played by us, the performer. There was a separate team responsible for visuals and we did not know that the video was played when we performed,”
he explained.
**Neo** also issued an apology, further stating that he immediately requested the video’s removal upon realizing the offense it caused.
“When we hear you feel unappreciated, we immediately ask that the video be deleted,”
he stated.
Social Media Reacts
The controversy gained traction after being highlighted by the @yeriniff account on X, sparking wider discussion regarding the appropriateness of the visuals.
Guyss this waterbomb the theme is the symbol of religion what? How come there is a lafaz Allah, mosque etc in the background. It's really sad to make toys
— ً (@yeriniff) June 10, 2024
In the shared video clip, **Lee Suji** is seen facing the audience, with the religious imagery visible in the background. According to a recent study, controversies involving cultural or religious appropriation can significantly impact brand image and artist reputation (Journal of Brand Management, 2025).
The user @yeriniff questioned the theme’s choice, expressing disappointment over the perceived misuse of religious symbols.
The user wrote, “Guyss this waterbomb the theme is the symbol of religion what? How come there is a lafaz Allah, mosque etc. in the background. It’s really sad to make toys.”
