THEBLACKLABEL's co-ed group ALLDAY PROJECT makes waves online; yet faces controversy as #TARZZAN_OUT trends

After days of speculation and rumours, THEBLACKLABEL officially introduced the members of its much-anticipated co-ed group, ALLDAY PROJECT, on June 9, ahead of their debut scheduled for June 23 at 6 PM KST. The five-member group consists of Annie, Tarzzan, Bailey, Woochan, and Youngseo.

The label described the project as "a special collaboration of five unparalleled artists.¡± According to THEBLACKLABEL, the group aims to "push the boundaries of creative expression, challenge conventional norms, and deliver something entirely new and unprecedented."

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Meet the members of ALLDAY PROJECT

Each member brings a distinct background and artistic identity to the group: Woochan was previously known as a member of HYBE¡¯s pre-debut team Trainee A.

Youngseo was a finalist on the survival show R U Next? and was originally part of the final lineup for ILLIT before departing the group ahead of their debut.

Annie, also known as Moon Seo-yoon, is the eldest daughter of Shinsegae President Chung Yoo-kyung. Her inclusion marks the debut of what many are calling K-pop's first ¡°chaebol idol,¡± adding even more buzz around the group.

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ALLDAY PROJECT faces controversy ahead of debut

Just hours after the members were revealed, controversy began to brew¡ªcentered around member Tarzzan. Real name Lee Chae-won, Tarzzan has been active in the entertainment and fashion scene, having modeled for high-profile brands like Samsung, McDonald's, Calvin Klein, Uniqlo, Hyundai Motor Company, and more.

Why is #TARZZAN_OUT trending?

The controversy surrounding Tarzzan stems largely from his hairstyle choices. Fans quickly pointed out that he frequently wears braids, with his Instagram featuring multiple photos of him sporting the look. In fact, even in the group's official teaser image, Tarzzan appears wearing braids.

This has sparked criticism from many Black K-pop fans, who took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit to express their concerns about what they see as cultural appropriation.

Some fans have gone as far as to demand that Tarzzan be removed from the group before debut. One Reddit post read, "Is the male idol wearing braids?? I saw people already deciding not to bother checking out the group." Another user replied, "I believe his name is 'Tarzan'," while someone else added sarcastically, "He clearly passed the company's criteria."

About Tarzzan on Reddit

The criticism arrives amid heightened scrutiny of cultural sensitivity in K-pop, especially as past incidents involving idols resurface. BLACKPINK¡ªunder YG Entertainment, like THEBLACKLABEL¡ªhas previously faced backlash for racially insensitive behavior, including clips where members were seen using the N-word. For context, THEBLACKLABEL is an affiliate of YG Entertainment, though it operates semi-independently.

Meanwhile, the hashtag #TARZZAN_OUT continued to trend on X. Adding further fuel to the fire, fans discovered that Tarzzan follows Tory Lanez on Instagram. The Canadian rapper, while known for his music, has been involved in a controversial legal case involving Megan Thee Stallion, which further intensified the backlash against the idol.

One said, "someone get this wannabe ni**a out now #TARZZAN_OUT"

someone get this wannabe nigga out now #TARZZAN_OUT

pic.twitter.com/n7wrWcvlly https://t.co/IsKdv03I7s

¡ª mercy? (@simplyjeongin) June 8, 2025

Another wrote, "He's so disgusting he shouldn¡¯t be allowed near the other 4 especially the girls."

he¡¯s so disgusting he shouldn¡¯t be allowed near the other 4 especially the girls#TARZZAN_OUT pic.twitter.com/aIrp6iXLej

¡ª magical girl rune ??-¨@ (@illeeys) June 8, 2025

One added, "Very happy for Youngseo but like seriously what is going on with this dude like do they have no cultural sensitivity advisors at all at tbl #TARZZAN_OUT"

Very happy for Youngseo but like seriously what is going on with this dude like do they have no cultural sensitivity advisors at all at tbl #TARZZAN_OUT pic.twitter.com/3rYYpcF0Da

¡ª ? magical girl Jamie ???? ???? saw ARTMS 1/5/25 (@runasspacebuns) June 8, 2025

More about ALLDAY PROJECT

This marks the first major co-ed K-pop group to debut since KARD burst onto the scene back in 2017. ALLDAY PROJECT is set to make their official debut on June 23 with the release of their first single, titled "FAMOUS."

The group also becomes THEBLACKLABEL's second-ever idol group, following the debut of the fourth-generation girl group MEOVV.

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