Japanese influencer Gamix faces backlash for racist gesture mocking ATEEZ's San

Japanese influencer Gamix has faced widespread international backlash after posting a video that included a racist gesture mocking ATEEZ member San. While recreating San’s dance challenge for the song ‘BAD’, Gamix used his fingers to pull the corners of his eyes outward, a gesture widely recognized as a racist stereotype targeting East Asian features.

Following the outcry from fans in Japan, South Korea, and globally, Gamix deleted the original video. However, he has drawn further criticism for his response. Instead of a formal apology to the K-pop artist or the Asian community, he posted a video claiming that his eyes naturally appear narrow in the morning, which many viewers interpreted as an attempt to dismiss or justify the offensive behavior.

Gamix, who gained significant social media following after being filmed crying during a 2026 World Cup match, has also been criticized for a subsequent live stream where he apologized to other public figures but failed to mention San or address the racial controversy directly.