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Did IVE mock Indian classical dance? Internet slams rookie group: 'It's disrespectful'

While the fandom is divided, one Indian fan said, 'If someone desi is offended, then it's justified'

While more and more K-pop groups and artists are becoming aware of cultural appropriation, there is still a long way to go. A lot of Black fans have been vocal about why box braids and saying the N-word is racist which has led to a certain level of awareness. Unfortunately, there are still instances of appropriation and mocking of cultures taking place. Instances like the use of AAVE to mimic Black slang, stylizing dreamcatchers sacred to Native Americans as accessories and making fun of Indian classical dance moves still continue to happen. And rookie group IVE is the latest to come under fire.

Starship’s latest girl group IVE consisting of members like IZ*ONE’s Yujin and Wonyoung has been making waves lately. They had the highest first-week sales for a 2021 debuted group and became the fastest girl group to win a music show. They also peaked with 1.4 million Spotify listeners despite debuting 13 days ago and got their first #1 on Billboard on the Hot Trending Songs Chart. But other than their commercial success, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for them.

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Is IVE mocking Indian classical dance?

IVE was first slammed for having the same hand gesture as girl group Everglow. It took its label a day to apologize and change IVE’s gesture. We then had Wonyoung being scrutinized for her dancing. Netizens called her lazy for not putting as much energy into her moves as the other members. And now, three members of IVE have come under fire for mocking Indian culture. Starship released the making of the music video ‘Eleven’ on December 11.

Well, by December 12, a lot of Indian fans believed that at one point some of the members of IVE were making fun of Indian classical dance and pop music. Yujin put her hand under Rei’s chin and started moving it side to side with Rei also moving her head. We then had Yujin, Rei and Wonyoung doing the same move. The scenes were captioned as ‘dduru dduru du’ which made fans think that the members were singing the hook to the popular Punjabi song ‘Tunak Tunak Tun’. However, the moves that they were doing are similar to a move in Indian classical danceform Bharatnatyam which takes years to master.

Some Indian fans did not find it disrespectful while some did. There have been several K-pop idols in the past who have bopped their head or moved it side to side to make fun of Indian classical dance moves or worn Indian accessories that is otherwise looked down upon in South Korea. We also had the statue of an Indian god in a K-pop music video as a prop. This is why Indian fans find it upsetting that K-pop artists continue to misappropriate and mock their culture.

'Please stop invalidating us'

Fans explained that while IVE may not have meant to mock Indian traditional dance and Punjabi pop music, it was still hurtful and they wanted to educate IVE on the matter. They stated that relating the popular Punjabi song with a classical Indian dance move was as problematic as singing PSY's 'Gangnam Style' while making Korean folk dance moves. One Twitter user posted, “Intentional or not this kind of action should not be recurring specially after so MANY instances of desis explaining why it's downright disrespectful. Desi culture is very commonly made fun of and that is in NO WAY ok.” One fan shared, “About the IVE situation. I think it is a bit insensitive what they did. However, if you aren’t desi, do not speak over us! This isn’t the end of the world either so don’t go hating on them.  Give them time and let’s push for an apology.”

Another fan felt, “As a desi, honestly for me, im not offended by what they did. every random head bopping is NOT desi culture. often people who start these accusations are not desi themselves, so please dont speak on us if you're not one of us. if someone desi if offended, then it's justified.” One tweeted, “One desi person does not speak for the entire community. the majority of us ARE offended, so please stop invalidating us. if people are rightfully upset, then you, as a non-desi, have NO right to speak over us. i would like ive to apologise because mockery is mockery, it hurts.”

Another fan tried to clarify, “I am desi so I am saying this. no they didn’t mock anyone, the thing they were doing was copying the moves Yoo Jaesuk And Jeon Somin did on the famous Korean Variety show, like some dance moves. The thing is the person who did the subtitles messed up the thing by saying dudu ddu.” But one fan shared that that was equally disrespectful, “Doesn’t mean it’s okay for everyone else to do it?? as a desi myself i’m saying it’s wrong for them to do it too anyone who dances to that dururu song and sings it is in the wrong... sunmi even did it herself and then apologised so why don’t the others do the same?” Another simply said, “Also, i’m not trying to defend the girls ofc we are going to hold them accountable for what happened, canceling them will not do anything. whether they are mocking desi or not mocking it, i hope they will release a statement abt this.”