'I Live Alone' Clarifies "Hwasa's Outfit Not Intended to Reference Any Specific Culture"

Photo by YouTube, screenshot from 'Nahonjasinda STUDIO' video

Photo by YouTube 'Nahonjasinda STUDIO' video capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Park Hee-eun] MBC's 'I Live Alone' has stated that there was "absolutely no intention of racial discrimination" regarding the controversy raised by some overseas fans about Hwasa's outfit.

Earlier on the 15th, singer Hwasa, comedian Park Na-rae, and model Han Hye-jin, who are appearing on 'Yeo Eun Pa' (Women's Secret Party), a spin-off program of 'I Live Alone,' conducted a live broadcast through the official 'I Live Alone' YouTube channel.

At the time, Hwasa wore a top with a unique pattern and a hair tie that matched the concept of 'Yeo Eun Pa.' Some foreign netizens speculated that Hwasa's outfit resembled traditional Nigerian clothing and questioned whether there was an intention of racial discrimination.

In response, on the 25th, the 'I Live Alone' team posted a lengthy comment in English on the official YouTube channel video to clarify their position.

The production team stated, "We want to make it clear that the outfit Hwasa wore originated from a Korean-style sauna look that she often wears on our program. We had no intention of portraying any country's traditional clothing in a ridiculous manner."

They continued, "We realized that some viewers mistakenly thought Hwasa's outfit was traditional Nigerian clothing. Since our show is comedic in genre, some are concerned that making traditional clothing appear ridiculous could lead to racial discrimination."

However, they emphasized, "There was absolutely no intention to associate Hwasa's outfit with any specific culture."

The production team added, "We hope this explanation addresses the concerns and would like to thank the fans who support and cheer for our program."

Meanwhile, Hwasa, Park Na-rae, and Han Hye-jin are adding fun to the broadcast with their candid and natural appearances through 'Yeo Eun Pa.'