Once again, the worlds of K-pop and Met Gala collided. Several Korean artists attended what's dubbed the "most prestigious and glamorous fashion event and social gathering" in Hollywood. Some have become regulars already, like BLACKPINK's Jennie, while some were first-timers at the event.
One of those first-timers was the K-pop boy group Stray Kids. The eight-member group attended the 2024 Met Gala held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, on May 6, 2024 (May 7 in the Philippines). This year's theme was "Garden of Time."
Reportedly, Stray Kids was the first ever K-pop group to attend the gala. They donned dashing Tommy Hilfiger 'fits on the event's red carpet.
Photographers comment on Stray Kids' appearance
We all know how celebrities operate during the Met Gala. They walk on the red carpet, and flaunt their glamorous ensembles, all while trying to give the perfect shot for photographers to take.
But when Stray Kids' turn to pose for the photographers came, unsolicited comments were reportedly heard from the professional photographers. Some comments referred to Stray Kids' so-called "emotionless faces" at the event.
One of the photographers supposedly murmured, "I've never seen so many unemotional faces in my life." Another from the crowd purportedly said, "They're like robots."
The photographers tried to get Stray Kids' attention and get their desired shots. However, the group remained calm on the red carpet.
The photographer behind the video camera even yelled, "Everybody jump!" in a bid to trigger more action from the boys. But by the end of it, he was laughing at them. "As you were, as you were," another photographer commented.
Netizens are furious over the photographers' comments
Stray Kids' Met Gala attendance is a milestone, and fans were excited that the K-pop group was given this opportunity. However, netizens were disappointed with how the lensmen behaved during the red-carpet coverage.
The fan account who uploaded the clips wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "I'm legit so mad are these paparazzi that stupid and racists? Who let them in..."
More netizens come to rescue Stray Kids from what they called "unprofessional and racist" photographers. "This is how Asians are still being treated in the great year of 2024... Making so many unnecessary out-of-pocket comments with racist undertones," a netizen strongly noted.
Another fan took the sarcastic route and proclaimed, "[It's] funny how their livelihood depends on the people they're mocking and taking pictures of."
Fans continue to call out the ill-treatment that Stray Kids experienced in their first-ever Met Gala. Some netizens also call for the removal of the photographers from their companies.
