ATEEZ San ‘BAD’ challenge controversy: Why Is Japanese influencer Gamix facing backlash?

South Korean boy group ATEEZ member San is has been in the headlines ever since his step from music video BAD went viral and became a trend for dance challenge. However, the K-pop idol is garnering attention after a Japanese influencer named Gamix is facing criticism for his gesture towards the artist. Let's delve into details of the controversy.

Why is the Japanese influencer facing backlash over a gesture toward ATEEZ's San?

Japanese influencer and YouTuber Gamix has come under fire after a video parodying ATEEZ member San’s BAD challenge sparked accusations of racism. Gamix posted the clip on August 20, recreating San’s dance and facial expressions. A picture of San appeared at the bottom of the video, while Gamix also recreated the football jersey San had worn during his recent ceremonial kick-off appearance in Seoul.

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However, the video took a controversial turn when Gamix pulled the outer corners of his eyes sideways with both hands. The gesture is widely recognised as a racist caricature used to mock the physical appearance of East Asians. Because it appeared while he was imitating a Korean artist, the clip quickly drew criticism from fans and social media users.

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As criticism mounted, Gamix deleted the original video. However, instead of ending the controversy, his subsequent response generated another wave of backlash. In a later video, he pointed toward his eyes and referred to them as “Asian eyes,” saying that his eyes do not fully open in the morning. Reports say the follow-up failed to address the criticism and was eventually deleted as well.

Netizens' reaction to Japanese influencer's gesture towards ATEEZ's San

Soon after the clip went viral, several netizens took to social media platforms to give their opinion. One user wrote, "Imagine being racist toward your own race. An 18-year-old Japanese man went viral for mimicking ATEEZ’s viral dance and making a racist eye gesture at the end of the video. Japanese netizens have condemned him, and K-netizens are on his neck."

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Another user wrote, "Wait, wait, wait. This... if you let this slide, it's no good. So you're a Japanese influencer, huh? I hear they've already deleted it and put out an apology video, but this is really something you should never do. As a Japanese person, it's embarrassing, and I'm truly sorry. San-kun, I'm sorry, really sorry. This is the lowest of the low... tears are coming out..."

Did he look in the mirror? He didn't even need to use that slanty eye gesture; his eyes were already slanty. He's just another Japanese gimp trying to impress the West", wrote the third user.

Who is Gamix?

Gamix is a renowned Japanese content creator and social media influencer who primarily makes soccer and lifestyle videos. He has over 2 million followers on Instagram and more than 1 million subscribers on YouTube.

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Gamix gained massive global attention during the 2026 FIFA World Cup when a video captured him bursting into tears in the stands after Japan lost to Brazil, while surrounded by celebrating Brazilian fans. That emotional moment went viral, quickly pushing his follower count past the 1 million and eventually 2 million marks, heavily boosted by cross-cultural engagement from international fans.

All about ATEEZ

ATEEZ is an 8-member South Korean boy band formed by KQ Entertainment. They made their debut on October 24, 2018, with the EP Treasure EP.1: All to Zero. Known for powerful performances and pirate-inspired concepts, their name stands for "A Teenagers Z". The members of the group are San, Wooyoung, Seonghwa, Hongjoong, Song Mingi, Kang Yeo Sang, Choi Jong Ho, and Jeong Yun Ho.

For the unversed, Choi San, known as San, is a lead vocalist and main dancer of the eight-member boy group. Born in Namhae-gun, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, he serves as its local promotional ambassador. Apart from his music career, San his small-screen acting debut in the 2021 KBS drama Imitation.