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 toward East Asians while parodying ATEEZ member San's viral "BAD" challenge.

Gamix uploaded a video to his social media account 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 so-called "slant-eye" 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 Korean K-pop star.

Online commenters criticized 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.

He subsequently uploaded another clip in which he pointed to his eyes and said, "These are Asian eyes. Every morning, my eyes won't open. Why does this happen every morning?"

That video failed to quell the criticism. Online reactions included, "What is he even thinking?" "ATEEZ is popular in Japan too, so why would he do that?" and "Westerners are going to laugh at this."

Gamix eventually deleted the second video as well.

Gamix is a Japanese influencer who primarily creates soccer-related content and has around 2.16 million followers. He drew widespread attention during the 2026 FIFA World Cup when a video showed him crying after Japan lost to Brazil while watching the match surrounded by Brazilian fans.

Meanwhile, "BAD," the title track from ATEEZ's 14th mini-album "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5," released June 26, has generated considerable buzz through its dance challenge.

San also performed the challenge after taking the ceremonial first kick at a 2026 Coupang Play Series match between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid on Aug. 9.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

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