Liam Gallagher issues apology after ‘racial slur’ sparks backlash days before Oasis reunion tour kicks off
Liam Gallagher has sparked controversy after posting what was deemed a racially offensive message on social media platform X on Tuesday.
The former Oasis frontman tweeted “Ching-Chaeng-Chong”, a phrase widely condemned for mocking East Asian languages.
The 52-year-old musician deleted the post shortly after publishing it, but screenshots had already been captured and began circulating widely online.
The incident occurred just months before Oasis are scheduled to perform in Seoul as part of their highly anticipated reunion tour.
The offensive tweet has drawn immediate criticism from fans worldwide, with particular outrage from Asian supporters.
The controversy threatens to overshadow the band’s upcoming performance at Goyang Stadium, where tens of thousands of fans are expected to attend.
The backlash was swift and intense, particularly from fans in South Korea and across Asia. One social media user wrote: “If you look down on Asians so much, you should open a refund channel for Asians who bought tickets for performances.”
Another fan commented: “As much as I love Liam Gallagher, his comments today were insensitive, I’m so sorry that Asian fans had to read that and feel offended, there’s no way defending him, Liam is a 52-year-old idiot, not a kid.”
Many supporters expressed hesitation about attending the Seoul concert, with some threatening to boycott the show entirely unless a formal apology was issued.
The incident risks casting a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory reunion event.
Following the intense backlash, Gallagher took to X to issue an apology. He wrote: “Sorry if I offended anyone with my tweet before it wasn’t intentional you know I love you all and I do not discriminate. peace and love LG x”
The apology came hours after the original post, as criticism continued to mount on social media.
One fan responded to his apology saying: “Be careful from now on please, words can hurt even if not intended to be hurtful”.
The incident adds to Gallagher’s history of unpredictable social media behaviour that has made him both a compelling and polarising figure.
As of Tuesday evening, neither Gallagher nor his management team had issued any additional statement beyond the Twitter apology.
The apology has received mixed reactions from fans and observers. While some have welcomed the gesture as a step in the right direction, others argue it lacks sincerity.
Critics have pointed to the vague wording and the absence of direct acknowledgement of the harm caused by the offensive phrase.
The use of “if I offended anyone” has been particularly criticised as failing to take full responsibility for the impact of his words.
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Whether the apology will be sufficient to smooth relations before the Seoul concert remains uncertain.
The band’s hugely-anticipated reunion kicks off on Saturday at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with more than 74,000 fans expected.