Last year, girl group KISS OF LIFE (키스 오브 라이프) topped various South Korean music charts with their summer hit “Sticky,” securing their first win on the music show “The Show” since their debut. They were even touted as potential successors to SISTAR, possibly becoming the new “Summer Queens.” However, as the group’s popularity surged, so did controversies. Following an earlier scandal involving accusations of racial insensitivity that damaged their image, they have recently faced criticism for increasingly provocative choreography, leading to questions about whether they are pursuing a strategy of “relying on sex appeal and exposure to grab attention.”
Recently, KISS OF LIFE was invited to perform at South Korea’s summer music festival, 2026 WATERBOMB Seoul, taking the stage on July 24. They delivered several of their signature tracks, with their fiery performance once again becoming the focal point of the event. However, an unexpected “mouth-to-mouth” moment between members Natty (나띠) and Belle (벨) during their set sparked widespread online discussion and a fierce debate among netizens.
During the performance, KISS OF LIFE not only sang several popular songs but also debuted their unreleased new track, “Sweat.” As Natty and Belle interacted face-to-face, their lips briefly touched in a moment resembling a kiss. This was captured from multiple angles by fans at the scene, and the related videos quickly went viral across social media platforms.
After the performance, many fans flocked to fan interaction platforms, asking if the two had actually kissed. In response, both members personally clarified, emphasizing it was an accident that occurred during the performance. Natty stated, “There’s nothing to explain… Shim Hyeong-won (심형원), Belle’s birth name, bumped into me. I was surprised at the moment too.” Belle explained, “I was so immersed in the performance at the time that I completely misjudged our distance.” Both denied it was a deliberately staged segment.
Despite the members’ explanations, the footage sparked polarized reactions online. Many fans dismissed it as a minor stage incident, joking, “Their group name is KISS OF LIFE, so what’s wrong with a kiss?” and “This is a performance that truly lives up to their group name.” Some even found their interaction quite amusing.
However, some netizens held different views, questioning if the two were using ambiguous interactions to generate buzz. They even suggested it was a deliberate attempt to salvage their popularity through “queerbaiting” after previous controversies. One netizen commented, “After such a big racial insensitivity scandal, now they’re playing queerbait?” Another wrote, “Pretending to be lesbians won’t save your popularity.” Others added, “They know their popularity is declining, so they’re rushing to queerbait.”
Conversely, many defended the members, arguing that it’s inappropriate to easily label real people as “queerbaiting” and that one video shouldn’t lead to assumptions about an artist’s sexual orientation or motives. One netizen stated, “Queerbaiting doesn’t even exist for real people.” Another countered, “Do you really know them? How can you just assume they’re not queer?”
This brief “accidental kiss,” lasting only a few seconds, continues to circulate on social media and has become one of the most talked-about topics of this year’s 2026 WATERBOMB Seoul.
Previously, in late March 2025, during member Julie (쥴리)’s birthday live stream, KISS OF LIFE members drew criticism from international fans for imitating the exaggerated styling, tone, and behavior of “Black female rappers,” which was deemed stereotypical and racially insensitive. Their agency, S2 Entertainment, promptly removed the video and issued a formal apology. The members also uploaded handwritten letters admitting their mistake and promising deep reflection.
