G-Dragon performing during the LIV Golf Korea concert on May 4, 2025, in Incheon, South Korea.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Representatives for G-Dragon have issued a formal apology after the K-pop icon appeared on stage wearing a shirt featuring culturally offensive imagery and language during his K-Spark concert in Macau.
In an official statement released on Sunday (May 3)—just one day following the performance—Galaxy Corporation expressed deep regret regarding the inappropriate apparel. “This incident has underscored the necessity for heightened cultural sensitivity and more rigorous vetting procedures,” the statement acknowledged.
The agency added, “We are committed to reassessing and strengthening our internal review processes, including wardrobe selections, to ensure our operations align with a higher standard of global respect. We remain dedicated to approaching all artist-related endeavors with greater mindfulness and accountability, ensuring that the diverse values of our global fan base are consistently upheld.”
The message concluded by extending a heartfelt apology to everyone negatively impacted or disappointed by the oversight.
The garment in question displayed a Dutch racial slur widely considered analogous to the N-word, alongside a caricature on the front that featured exaggerated, stereotypical depictions of a Black man.
Billboard has reached out to the performer’s team for additional comment.
This is not the first time G-Dragon has faced allegations of racial insensitivity. In 2013, he garnered significant backlash for posting a photo of himself with darkened skin, an incident his representatives defended at the time by claiming it was merely a misunderstanding involving album cover art, denying any intent to perform blackface or make a political statement.
In the wake of this recent controversy, social media users have circulated older images that appear to show the artist wearing the same offensive garment years ago.
