5th-Gen Idol’s “Worst-Ever” Cultural Appropriation Triggers Massive Backlash

FIFTY FIFTY’s Athena is being accused of the “worst cultural appropriation” fans have seen after her controversial styling went viral for all the wrong reasons.

When a video from FIFTY FIFTY’s TikTok landed on X, fans zeroed in on Athena’s outfit: a black and red turban and robe with gold accents, paired with a drawn-on beard and heavy contouring. Immediately, many slammed the idol for cultural appropriation.

5050’s Athena doing this……?????
is this not strange. this is like the worst cultural appropriation ive ever seen. pic.twitter.com/T8SMg83IrU

— nene 𑄝੭ (@aeriminerva) September 12, 2026

Fans of FIFTY FIFTY were quick to clarify that the styling was intended to be a cosplay of Jafar, the villain from Disney’s Aladdin, with all members dressing up in themed costumes during a special dance practice for their song “Genie Magic.”

it’s clearly a cosplay of jafar, if you got an issue with jafar take that shit up with disney pic.twitter.com/ecLUtIIT4S

— julia 🌙 (@moonlunelle) September 12, 2026

genuinely what about this is cultural appropriation? y’all just trying to find shit to be mad about anyways stream genie magic pic.twitter.com/5oH9SmYK8I

— ؘ (@yewon) September 12, 2026

However, the explanation did little to calm the backlash. Many argued that the outfit was still offensive, and that the makeup in particular crossed a line. The character Jafar is from the fictional city of Agrabah, and the outfit designs in the movie are said to blend traditional clothing from the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa.

Idk why so many people r dismissing this because this is a cosplay if a white person did a cosplay of a Mexican character and even did stuff to make the facial features look different yall would have her burnt at the stake but you’ll do anything to defend your idols

— mia ⭐️ #BTSDISBAND (@yvesinthepark) September 13, 2026

weirdo this is a horrid mocking cosplay. Jafaar cosplays can be done without this — supporting a abuser group is insane

— nene 𑄝੭ (@aeriminerva) September 12, 2026

FIFTY FIFTY is already considered a controversial group by many given that its current lineup came together after a bitter legal battle over mistreatment. The court case split the group’s original members, with Keena being the only one to stay on while Saena, Sio, and Aran left to form Ablume. As such, many feel this is the latest example of trouble following the group in its post-lawsuit era.

if yall need ANOTHER reason to not support fifi 2.0…

— 🍔 (@unchaein) September 12, 2026

Got away with stealing the fame and hard work of abused girls so they think they can get away with racism too💀💀💀

— no labels, just mei~ (@jeongi3ang1) September 12, 2026

Kiss of Life lost their career for shit like this…

— blumora (@imblumora) September 13, 2026

Neither Athena nor FIFTY FIFTY’s label Attrakt has responded to the backlash.