British influencer and YouTuber Oli London has issued a public apology to BTS star Park Ji-min and the Asian neighborhood for present process dozens of surgical procedures to seem just like the Korean pop idol.
London has come underneath hearth for feedback figuring out as Korean and transracial, which means figuring out with a race totally different than considered one of organic ancestry.
London stated they’ve undergone 32 surgeries, together with six nostril jobs, eye surgical procedure, and a brow carry, in what was described in one video as a bid to “obtain my Jimin look.”
In a YouTube video uploaded Monday, London apologized for the surgical procedures and for “making an attempt to develop into one other particular person.”
“It was incorrect of me to attempt to emulate Jimin in such an obsessive manner,” London stated. “I notice now that it wasn’t the fitting factor to do.”
London defined that they have been bullied as a young person at school and felt lonely and unloved, which affected their vanity and created id points.
“That has been a giant think about me having surgical procedure, me being sad, me additionally funneling my love into Jimin,” London stated. “I actually tried to mannequin myself on that particular person as a result of I believed that will make me blissful.”
London defined that they just lately acquired married, which helped them “develop as an individual.”
“I am unable to be one other particular person. I simply want to like myself. I’ve began to essentially love myself,” they stated.
London issued a public apology to the singer and to “any member of the Asian neighborhood that has ever misunderstood me or misinterpreted me or thought perhaps I used to be just a little bit too obsessive about Jimin.”
London stated they nonetheless establish as Korean, including, “that is by no means going to alter.”
London introduced that they establish as Korean in a video uploaded in June 2021.
“I’m popping out as non-binary … my pronouns are they/them, Korean and Jimin. I do know lots of people do not perceive me however I do establish as Korean … I do not establish as British,” London stated.
In an announcement shared with NBC Information, London stated they’ve confronted ongoing bullying for the way they establish.
“Since I shared my story with the world the bullying has solely gotten worse and the extent of abuse I obtain each day for my id as a Korean particular person is past horrifying and traumatic,” London stated.
“I by no means meant to trigger any offense with my actions and I’m sorry if anybody misinterpreted or misunderstood my sturdy love for Korea and Korean tradition,” London added.
London ended the Monday video saying: “I do wrestle with id points … however I am conquering these demons. I am working exhausting. It is not simple however I am making an attempt my finest.”
London has been very open about their love for Korea on social media, the place they’ve greater than 63,000 subscribers on YouTube and a million on TikTok, posting about Ok-pop stars, creating their very own music with references to Korean tradition and documenting surgical procedures to alter their look.
London tweeted Jan. 13, “Omg it is my birthday tomorrow. I hope I develop into extra Korean for my birthday.”
In a video uploaded in September 2021, London stated they underwent a revision rhinoplasty and nipple surgical procedure, including the caption, “I’ve lastly achieved my Jimin look and I really feel 100% Korean lastly.”
