In an Instagram reel that has garnered more than 8.9 million views, a middle-aged Korean woman grips the door to keep someone out while screaming, “Call the police!” The face staring back at her is U.S. rapper Kanye West’s. Videos of Koreans wearing face masks — most often portraying Black celebrities such as West — to startle those around them have recently gone viral, with some posts drawing tens of millions of views. The trend has ignited a debate over race and the ethics of viral content. The format is consistent across videos: A creator conceals who they are with long sleeves, a hood or cap, and a mask depicting a Black person, then knocks on a door. When an elderly parent or grandparent answers, their shock, panic and screams become the content. Reactions have been divided. While many viewers engage with the videos as entertainment, Korean commenters have largely called the prank out of line for targeting elderly and vulnerable family members. Many foreign users have also condemned the trend as racist. “We as Black people already go through a lot of stereotyping and hate a
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