THE BLACK LABEL's upcoming co-ed group ALLDAY Project is facing significant online criticism just one day after the company officially announced the lineup.
The controversy centers around member Lee Chaewon, also known as Tarzzan, and allegations of cultural appropriation related to his hairstyle choices. Fans have accused the model-turned-idol of inappropriately wearing braided hairstyles that are culturally significant to Black communities. The issue started after multiple photos on Tarzzan's Instagram account showed him with various braided styles, as well as similar styling in the group's official debut teaser images.
Many netizens have pointed out that this appears to be a recurring choice rather than an isolated incident. The backlash got worse when fans discovered that Tarzzan's Instagram account follows Canadian rapper Tory Lane, who was convicted in 2023 on three felony charges, including assault with a semiautomatic handgun against rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Critics have interpreted this as showing support for a convicted abuser.
ALLDAY Project represents THE BLACK LABEL's second group debut in less than a year, following MEOVV's launch. The five-member co-ed group includes Annie Moon, Bailey Sok, Jo Woochan, Tarzzan, and Youngseo, who was previously part of ILLIT's pre-debut lineup but left before the group's official debut.
Social media platforms have been flooded with calls for accountability from management, with some fans organizing efforts to contact THE BLACK LABEL directly about the controversy surrounding Tarzzan.
"TARZZAN (@tarzzan_boy) is a pick from the group I SEVERELY DISLIKE. His excessive use of Black aesthetics and the concept of durags and scalped-up braids cannot be ignored," one fan wrote.
The controversy has divided potential fans, with many expressing that while they were initially excited about the group's concept and other members, they now feel conflicted about supporting ALLDAY Project as a group, with some demanding Tarzzan's complete removal from the lineup.
As of Monday, THE BLACK LABEL has not issued any official statement addressing either the cultural appropriation allegations against Tarzzan or concerns regarding the Tory Lanez connection on Instagram. The company confirmed plans for the co-ed group debut earlier this month but has remained silent on the growing issue.
The controversy echoes longstanding debates about cultural appropriation in K-pop. In 2022, EXID's Hani faced criticism for wearing box braids in teaser images for the group's 10th-anniversary comeback, leading producers to blur her hairstyle in the final music video.
Similarly, TO1's Chan apologized in 2023 after wearing a durag during a KCON LA performance, acknowledging the hairstyle's cultural significance to Black communities. BLACKPINK's Jennie also sparked outrage in 2022 when she appeared with cornrows in HBO's "The Idol" trailer, with critics arguing the style constituted appropriation of Black cultural identity.
