Kep1er’s Yujin apologizes for wearing religiously insensitive shirt featuring the 'Kaaba'

Fans criticize the shirt as “disrespectful” with one stating, “Religion should not be used as an aesthetic.”

In a recent controversy, Kep1er’s Yujin found herself at the center of criticism for wearing a shirt featuring the words “Allah” and an image of the “Kaaba,” sacred symbols in Islam. 

The shirt, which was adorned with bedazzled text and a depiction of the Kaaba, sparked outrage among K-pop fans, many of whom deemed the outfit disrespectful and insensitive to the Islamic religion.

The image of Yujin wearing the controversial shirt quickly spread across social media, with fans expressing their displeasure over the use of religious symbols in fashion. 

"Our religion should not be used as an aesthetic," one fan tweeted, emphasizing the disrespectful nature of the design. 

Many fans were especially angered by the fact that this was not the first time Yujin had worn the shirt, pointing out that it had also been seen on members of the girl group Badvillain.

While some fans defended Yujin, arguing that idols often have no control over their wardrobe choices, others asserted that in the age of global audiences, all parties involved—especially stylists and agencies—should be more diligent. 

"Ignorance is not an excuse, especially in the digital age," one fan wrote, calling for greater sensitivity from both artists and their agencies.

In response to the backlash, Yujin took to the fan-chatting platform Bubble to apologize directly to her followers, acknowledging the offense caused by her outfit. 

She shared her heartfelt regret, stating, "I sincerely apologize for wearing the outfit with religious content. I never intended to offend anyone, and I am deeply sorry for causing any harm."

KLAP Entertainment, the agency behind Kep1er, also issued a formal statement of apology, confirming that they had deleted all images featuring the shirt and promised to be more vigilant in the future. 

The agency said: “Hello, this is KLAP Entertainment.
We have confirmed that Kep1er’s Yujin has recently worn an outfit with a design depicting religious content, and we have deleted all pictures featuring said outfit.
We should have checked the outfits thoroughly before providing them to our artists. We would like to apologize to everyone for the distress caused due to our ignorance and ineptitude.
As a group with not only Korean fans but also fans from all over the world, we would be extra cautious so as not to commit similar mistakes in the future.Once again, we would like to offer our sincere apology for the offense caused.”

The shirt's designer, who has come under fire for the design, also issued a public statement, acknowledging the problem and taking down the product. 

"We will be doing everything we can to ensure that our future creations are thoughtful, respectful, and considerate of the diverse communities we aim to serve."