Anger over Japanese influencer Gamix’s ‘slant-eyed’ jibe at K-pop star San

Japanese influencer Gamix, who went viral for sobbing after Japan’s defeat at the 2026 Fifa World Cup, has sparked controversy after making a gesture widely…

Japanese influencer Gamix, who went viral for sobbing after Japan’s defeat at the 2026 Fifa World Cup, has sparked controversy after making a gesture widely considered racist towards East Asians while parodying Ateez member San’s viral “BAD” challenge.

Gamix uploaded a video to his social media account on Thursday in which he recreated the choreography from Ateez’s “BAD”, a viral trend that has recently gained traction online.

During the video, which displayed a photo of San at the bottom of the screen, Gamix used both hands to pull the outer corners of his eyes sideways.

The “slant-eyed” gesture is widely regarded as a racist gesture used to mock the physical appearance of East Asians. The fact that Gamix is himself East Asian added another layer to the backlash, with some viewers questioning why a Japanese creator would use the gesture while imitating a South Korean K-pop star.

Online commenters criticised the video, with reactions including, “Is he making fun of himself?” “Does he think he’s Western?” and “I don’t even know where to begin with this.”

As the controversy grew, Gamix deleted the video without issuing an apology or explanation.

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