KCON is a major music festival in the USA that celebrates the rich Kpop culture and entertainment, which will be held at the LA Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena on August 1-3, 2025.
On the 17th, KCON’s organizers announced through their official SNS that the girl group KISS OF LIFE will no longer be included in their artist lineup. According to the official statement, the decision was made after reaching a mutual agreement between the group and the festival’s organizers.
[NOTICE]
Dear KCONers,Thank you for your continued interest and support for KCON LA 2025.
Regrettably, after careful consideration and thorough discussions exploring all avenues for participation, KCON and S2 Entertainment have mutually decided that KISS OF LIFE will no… pic.twitter.com/ddXDODamXU
— KCON USA (@kconusa) May 16, 2025
The news comes shortly after the announcement of KCON’s second lineup of artists last May 13th, where KISS OF LIFE was included together with Kpop’s biggest names. Their sudden removal from the lineup immediately became a hot topic online, with many fans expressing different reactions about it.
While the reason behind KISS OF LIFE’s removal from KCON is unclear, some fans took to social media and shared their thoughts about the possible reasons. Most of them speculated that this could be due to the group’s recent cultural appropriation issue.
While some fans reacted positively to the group being dropped from the lineup, some also expressed concern about the members’ seemingly ‘damaged’ careers.
What’s even more satisfying about the whole kiss of life being pulled from KCON is that it’s high time that idols actually receive the consequences of their actions. Y’all have let way too many groups get away with doing racist/racial insensitive bullshit with no type of…
— H💚PE WRLD (@MangSheaButter) May 16, 2025
am i the only one who thinks the hate on kiof made them more famous? my friends who don’t know kpop come up to me asking about them, they’re going to kcon and waterbomb, igloo n sticky are still charting, live love laugh is charting everywhere too.. life is good for kissys huh
— ⸝⸝ ꒰ 데인⁸ 💋🍷 .ᐟ live, love, laugh ⁞ ˎˊ˗ (@k4issy) May 13, 2025
Seeing everyone hate on kiof for not being able to go to kcon is sick. Idk what more yall want from them after they already apologized. They don’t deserve this constant hate
— Mari•SEEING SKZ 2025•樂★ ∞ ⁸ ꨄ (@hannie_bunn) May 16, 2025
Meanwhile, expectations are high for the upcoming KCON LA, which features a star-studded lineup. The event will feature multiple stages where fans can watch their favorite idols perform and connect directly with them.
Check out the full lineup for KCON LA 2025 below:
- SEVENTEEN’s HxW
- SHINee’s Key
- MAMAMOO’s Hwasa
- Roy Kim
- Monsta X
- NCT 127
- i-dle’s Yuqi
- aespa
- P1Harmony
- CRAVITY
- Lee Youngji
- IVE
- NMIXX
- JO1
- NOWADAYS
- ZEROBASEONE
- RIIZE
- MEOVV
- izna
- “Street Fighter” dancer Choi Hojung
- IS:SUE
