HYBE’s Rookie Group CORTIS Under Fire for Alleged Cultural Appropriation in TikTok

Is it a harmless joke or a harmful caricature? BIGHIT MUSIC’s freshest faces, CORTIS, have sparked a heated debate online following a controversial Christmas upload on TikTok. What was meant to be a festive clip has turned into a major PR crisis for the HYBE sub-label.

The Controversy Behind the Ski Masks

On December 25, 2025, the members of CORTIS posted a video lip-syncing to “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” inside the HYBE building. However, their choice of attire—ski masks, sunglasses, and baggy pants—combined with exaggerated gestures and perceived gang signs, rubbed many netizens the wrong way. Critics argue the video is an outright caricature of Black culture, labeling it as insensitive cultural appropriation.

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Double Standards and the KISS OF LIFE Comparison

The backlash has intensified as fans compare the situation to a past controversy involving girl group KISS OF LIFE. Many are pointing out a perceived double standard, suggesting that CORTIS is being shielded by their status as a HYBE boy group. While KISS OF LIFE faced severe criticism and issued multiple apologies, some netizens claim the same level of accountability isn't being demanded of their male counterparts.

Defenders of the group argue the video was just “goofing around,” but the hashtag #CORTISDisband has already begun circulating. With the video still active on social media, the pressure is mounting for BIGHIT MUSIC to address the growing discontent among global fans.