About

Sorb3t is an indie J-pop idol group based in Los Angeles, California that has attracted attention for using styles typical of Japanese idol groups, including using Japanese words and putting on a Japanese accent, when two of the idols are white and all are American. As the group attracted attention, they proved divisive online, as some commenters mocked the group for appropriating Japanese idol aesthetics, while others defended them, noting that non-Japanese J-pop idols, dubbed "Kaigai" idols, are accepted in the J-pop idol scene.

History

On January 25th, 2023, Sorb3t posted their first TikTok introducing themselves, set to NewJeans' song 'OMG'. The clip gained over 94,000 views in four months (shown below). The idols' names are Alice, Berry and Ashe.

Over the following months, their videos steadily rose in views, and on May 23rd, they posted a video of their first live performance, outside of a Tsunscoops ice cream shop, gaining over 689,000 views in two days (shown below, left). On May 24th, they posted their first TikTok to crack a million views, in which they instructed fans on their call-and-response chants. The video gained over 4.3 million views in one day (shown below, right).

Online Presence

After the release of their call-and-response video, Sorb3t began attracting some negative attention on TikTok and Twitter. On May 25th, 2023, Twitter user @kissfew^[1] tweeted the video, saying "I might have to stan." The video gained over 1,200 quote tweets. Multiple commenters gave left negative comments on the video, and many commented that it was off-putting that Berry pronounced "Strawberry" with a Japanese accent. For example, user @lovelinenjoyer^[2] commented on the accent, gaining over 40 likes (shown below, left). Others made comments about their looks. User @garliccries^[3] insulted Berry's bangs, gaining over 170 likes in an hour (shown below, right).

However, the group also had many people defending them from hate online, noting that unlike in K-pop culture, J-pop is more accepting of "overseas idols," which also dubbed kaigai idols, and argued Sorb3t wasn't as strange as some people made them out to be. Twitter user @naachns^[4] posted about the concept of overseas idols, gaining over 20 retweets and 130 likes (shown below, left). User @jemimemu^[5] posted a similar sentiment, gaining over 80 retweets and 740 likes (shown below, right).

Doxxing

After the group attracted negative attention, Berry posted a video apologizing to the people she offended, notably saying her Japanese boyfriend had come up with her call-and-response chant. The video gained over 3.4 million views in less than one week (shown below).

On May 28th, the group announced they had been doxxed and were stepping away from social media for an indefinite amount of time. The call-and-response video was also deleted.

Search Interest

External References