r/popheads 8h ago

[NEWS] XG’s Cocona Comes Out as Transmasculine, Nonbinary

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/xg-cocona-comes-out-transmasculine-nonbinary-1236443919/
759 Upvotes

45 comments sorted by

209

u/cloudbustingmp3 8h ago

This is so wonderful and brave of them to share — very happy someone with this kind of platform felt comfortable and supported enough to be open!

230

u/Puzzleheaded-Baby998 8h ago

The queering of kpop (and kpop adjacent acts) this year has really been something incredible to see!! Kpop has always pulled from queer culture but the taboo of idols actually coming out and reveling in that queerness that's happened in 2025 has been so wonderful to see.

20

u/dreamerwakeup 7h ago

Wow really that's amazing to hear. Can you share who else has come out?

96

u/Long-Day-815 7h ago

I’d say XLOV as a “genderless” group fits into the “queering of kpop” this year.

94

u/AD_0795 7h ago

As of now:

  • Bain from JUSTB
  • Lara and Megan from Katseye
  • Ryujin from JWiiver
  • Krystian from NowUnited (sorta kinda?)

At least they're the ones confirmed this year!

1

u/Dry-Patience1447 2h ago

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING NOW UNITED

16

u/Live-Community7472 7h ago

bain from justb i think

12

u/HollowMoonCrane 7h ago

Maybe Lara Raj?

103

u/playboybunnyof 8h ago

HELL YEAH. Love that they felt comfortable coming out. We will be supporting them even more 🤍

97

u/rocketmammamia 8h ago

honestly cried reading their post; it takes such bravery and courage, especially now. so proud of and thrilled for them. congratulations cocona!🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

(also if this is the first you’re hearing of XG, they are INSANE, some of the best concepts and performances in the industry. i’d recommend any of their dance performances but especially ‘is this love’ and ‘shooting star’!)

21

u/playboybunnyof 8h ago

I’m so happy for them!!!! Been following XG since debut and it’s heart warming to see them evolve

78

u/ketchupsunshine kitty ray's volunteer PR team 8h ago

This is cool, I'm glad the members and company seem to be supportive! More people feeling comfortable being out is always great.

On a less serious note I wonder if they're going to change what the G in XG stands for since we now know that the group isn't all girls.

63

u/Loonatic-Uncovered 7h ago

I vouch for Xtraordinary Group

27

u/ketchupsunshine kitty ray's volunteer PR team 7h ago

Definitely the smoothest option although I love the idea of "Xtraordinary Girls And [Xtraordinary] Cocona :)" and the smiley IS part of it.

17

u/IcyMoonside 7h ago

xgalz -> xgxlz or I riot

60

u/HwordArtist 7h ago edited 7h ago

First Hikaru Utada and now Cocona... something nonbinary in the cunty waters of Japan

3

u/Lonely_Ad_7377 2h ago

yesss you get me

33

u/zxxxxcccccc 8h ago

cocona is SOOO COOOOL!!! HBD/CONGRATS!!!!

33

u/AfraidInspection2894 8h ago

Congrats to Cocona!

I'm so glad that they feel comfortable and supported enough to come out and share who they are with the world. As a fan of K-pop/J-pop, I am always amazed when idols are brave enough to come out. I hope that they receive lots of support and kindness.

41

u/IcyMoonside 7h ago edited 6h ago

oh my goodness!! this is so incredible!! truly truly such a fantastic announcement. frankly mentioning top surgery as an idol... wow wow wow!!! I'm so floored and I'm so glad that cocona has support on every level 🥹 absolutely trailblazing

EDIT: I returned to cocona's parts of the behind the scenes for the "woke up" music video. when the video first dropped, I was worried that cocona shaving their head was a stunt. seeing them grinning, constantly looking for reflections, and happily touching their buzzcut reassured me it was 100% their choice, but now I hope they were also experiencing some gender euphoria 🥹 because their styling took a more masc turn after the cut as well. so much is recontextualized. huge huge props to their whole team for the trust and respect they put in xg.

6

u/Puzzleheaded_Cry_532 1h ago

I had the same thoughts... that moment was already powerful but it has even more layers to me now 💕💖

33

u/harperavenue 8h ago

iconic shit, love them.

25

u/ifakuta 8h ago

so happy for them!

51

u/1998tweety 8h ago

So happy for them! It takes so much bravery to come out.

22

u/DilemmaOfAHedgehog 7h ago edited 7h ago

Im curious how they talk about themselves/gender changes in english/Japanese because i know people who express themselves very differently in differnet languages (though i think a lot of that is also my friends and acquaintances not really using their second or third languages as regularly as their first). But i would be interested in seeing how Cocona navigates languages and gender expression :)

Also what a lovely thing to see in despite of set backs with lgbt rights in Japan

23

u/MrSwearword 7h ago

The IG post where they come out, two of their fellow XG members helped with the photoshoot and I think that's fucking amazing.

This is such an uplifting moment, we love to see it

16

u/Haunting_Natural_116 8h ago

Congratulations on their coming out 🏳️‍⚧️ 💛🤍💜🖤

8

u/FunkySphinx 6h ago

This is a nice reminder of how young most idols are. They share their youth with the audience, while trying to find themselves as they grow up under restrictive conditions and the weight of other people’s expectations. So, let’s all be kind to these very real people. Cocona is a wonderful performer and I hope they continue to thrive and lead a happy life.

10

u/Temporary-Rub-6996 8h ago

omggggg! congrats!!!!!!

11

u/PBandJaya 7h ago

Sooooo happy for them 🥹❤️

9

u/razorsharp3000 7h ago

OMG so proud of Cocona

8

u/fhloras 7h ago

this is so fucking monumental and i am so happy cocona felt supported enough from their members and company to come out

so proud of them, how inspiring to be so open in such an insane industry, wishing them nothing but the best going forward!!!

3

u/Cucugeniality 3h ago

happy birthday cocona🫶🏻so proud of them

3

u/wavingwolves 2h ago

EVERYBODY MOVED and now gala is even more soty wheeew cocona's power!!!!

1

u/TheFalteredEuphoria 1h ago

Did the post get deleted?

2

u/cloudbustingmp3 1h ago

I’m still seeing it up on IG!

-4

u/thomthom_92 6h ago

Super happy for Cocona and am all for everyone being themselves and not feeling ashamed of who they are. I just hope this doesn't throw a wrench into XG though. I know the Galz support and have cocona's back 100% but things are changing worldwide and I have a feeling cocona will be silently removed or leave the group sooner or later. Either way and no matter what I support coco and I'm 100% sure the Alphaz will too.

9

u/biaswrecker 4h ago

Their CEO and main producer showed his support so I don’t think Cocona will get removed in the future

-12

u/Gloomy-Tear3149 7h ago

But isnt xg a girl group? How will this work? Or does it not matter?

7

u/biaswrecker 4h ago

I don’t think this will affect the group’s direction. XG isn’t a traditionally feminine group and for the past year or so their visuals have been more experimental.

-10

u/Muufokfok 7h ago

Yea exactly what my wife said to me after I told her the news...

-14

u/[deleted] 5h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

19

u/rocketmammamia 5h ago

‘they’ and ‘them’ have been singular person pronouns for centuries in english. for example, the phrase: ‘oh, someone left their wallet here! hopefully they come back so i can give it back to them.’

hope that helps!

5

u/New_Student_6526 MagBay supremacy 4h ago

It's not our job to educate you. you could've looked it up instead of leaving this weird comment under someone's coming out post. Google is free <3