(G)I-DLE Yuqi’s Viral Music Video Gets Criticized for Aave Misuse — 'How Did You Manage to Make a Nonsensical Song?'
(G) I-DLE's Yuqi has recently found herself at the center of controversy following the viral spread of a performance video featuring her latest solo track.
The clip, now infamous across social media platforms, has sparked widespread criticism primarily due to its misuse of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE).
Yuqi, who made headlines earlier this year with her Korean solo debut album Yuq1, showcased her talent in a special performance video for the song "On Clap (feat. Lexie Liu)".
However, it wasn't her dance moves or vocal prowess that grabbed attention; instead, the lyrics displayed on screen during the video drew heavy backlash.
Lines such as "this beat on slap" and "bad boogie babies on tap" were singled out for their apparent nonsensical use of AAVE.
Critics argued that these phrases failed to adhere to AAVE's grammatical rules and context and perpetuated cultural insensitivity through appropriation.
The criticism spread rapidly online, with many users taking to Twitter to express their disappointment and frustration.
One user, @viianwich, tweeted, "literally what the fuck is she talking about," alongside a clip from the video that has amassed over 2.7 million views.
literally what the fuck is she talking about pic.twitter.com/IHuTBwEK0v
— r ⚢ (@viianwich) July 17, 2024
Similarly, @aespalert highlighted, "the 'then eat little sweets' part takes me out so bad because how did you manage to make a nonsensical song even more nonsensical."
the “then eat little sweets” part takes me out so bad because how did you manage to make a nonsensical song even more nonsensical https://t.co/rRiI8SIPiU
— sade (@aespalert) July 18, 2024
The backlash underscores ongoing debates within the K-pop industry about appropriating cultural elements like AAVE.
just a bunch of jumbled phrases none of this makes sense like😭 https://t.co/x7k3Iy2xIv
— FROMIS COMEBACK (@im_unhaoppy) July 17, 2024
Critics argue that such appropriations distort the original cultural context and perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misunderstandings.
what the fuck is a bad boogie baby https://t.co/tyC4gpIv1a
— quixø 🇵🇸 (@whosquixo) July 18, 2024
Netizens joined the conversation with strong opinions. @jhpradarina tweeted, "These kpop idols need to stop using aave," reflecting a sentiment echoed by many who feel that such language should be respected and left to the communities from which it originates.
These kpop idols need to stop using aave 😭 https://t.co/QCXLNgbvnO
— aespaRina| WALK ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ (@jhpradarina) July 18, 2024
This incident has reignited discussions about cultural sensitivity and appropriation in global pop culture, with calls for greater awareness and respect for diverse linguistic and artistic expressions.
begging idols to leave ts to black people. https://t.co/KqiEi9IciM
— mercy ♡ (@REMWIFEYY) July 18, 2024
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KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Cassidy Jones.