ILLIT performing “You’re Under Arrest” during their encore concert. The police-inspired stage outfits drew criticism online over alleged sexualization of female police officers. Photo: BELIFT LAB via
The Korea Economic DailyILLIT member Yunah has responded to the attention surrounding the group’s controversial female police officer-inspired stage outfit.
When asked a related question, Yunah said the group had been surprised by the strong reaction after first revealing the stage during their tour.
“We were really happy and also surprised that there was so much interest after we first revealed it during the tour,” she said.
Yunah added, “I think we’re really grateful that people are paying attention to our performance, no matter what kind of attention it is.”
Her response drew mixed reactions online, with some criticizing the wording of her answer while others argued that the exact question she had been asked was unclear from the circulated excerpt.
Netizen Reactions
The sampled discussion was largely critical of Yunah’s response, with several commenters saying the wording came across as dismissive or poorly advised. Others questioned whether the quote was being judged without enough context about the reporter’s original question, while one commenter strongly defended ILLIT against the backlash.
1. Did she seriously answer that question like that...?
2. It sounds like an interview basically admitting to viral marketing.
3. So they're saying they don't care at all about the negative impact they might cause.
4. That was such a terrible answer...
5. Did the staff not give them any advice for anticipated questions, or was this actually the answer they advised them to give?
6. That answer is so naïve and clueless.
7. It just feels really off to portray a profession like that when it already gets endlessly trashed on male-dominated online communities.
8. No, that's a bit much.
9. Nooo...... answering like that just makes it look even worse.... ㅠㅠㅠ They should’ve just said they’ll work hard and try even harder...
10. As if a reporter invited to an album release press showcase would actually ask them straight to their faces, “What do you think about the controversy over sexualizing female police officers with your concert stage outfits?” People don’t even care what question she was actually answering. They just saw an opening and rushed to tear them apart... ILLIT is so f*cking pitiful...
0 Comments