CORTIS Answer "Awkward Questions" by Nomination: Kebab Disputes, a Ripped Costume, and Staying a Five-Piece
VOGUE JAPAN
In this VOGUE JAPAN video, the five members of the boy group CORTIS take turns answering awkward or hard-to-answer questions. Each question is assigned to a nominated member, apparently chosen by a pointer or camera that lands on one person ("back again," "the camera found the right guy," "it stopped, okay, it's me"). The answers are often hijacked by the rest of the group. Across the session, one theme keeps returning: the members can't agree on food, and one kebab order in particular has become a running joke. Along the way they talk about competition inside the team, stage mishaps, being starstruck, thrift shopping, and whether they would ever change the lineup.
The Wink That the Group Found Cringey
The first question asks what one member does that the others find cringey. The group quickly points at one person, jokingly calling him "a horrible person." He supplies the answer himself. While working as an MC on a Korean TV show, he winked on camera, and the others thought it was cringe.
The rest of the group says the problem wasn't winking itself but the way he did it. One member says you can "just wink," but his wink went into "a different mode" with the eyes. The accused member denies it ("I didn't do that, man"). When he's asked to show the wink, he refuses ("Nah, you're for real?") and says he wasn't ready for this.
Food Is the Group Chat's Biggest Debate
Asked about the most debated topic in the CORTIS group chat, the nominated member calls it the easiest question, and the others agree the answer is obvious: food. He says the five of them don't have similar tastes and they fight every time they have to choose what to eat. One member likes kebab and another likes junk food, so they sometimes end up ordering separately, one by one.
They describe one day when they spent so long deciding on lunch that they missed it and had to settle for dinner. Part of the problem, they admit, is that everyone is picky while also saying "I'm fine with everything, you do it." Nobody decides, and the manager ends up stepping in. One member says the most irritating thing is when someone claims to be fine with anything and then rejects every suggestion.
Competition as "Good Synergy"
The question about the most competitive moment between members gets the most reflective answer of the session. The nominated member says it would be weird not to be competitive and that all five are competitive with one another. He describes it as not wanting to be left behind: when someone starts doing something new, the others feel they have to catch up.
He traces this back to their trainee days, when they compared who was better at what and who was doing well or badly. He says they gave each other feedback to improve. In his account, this is why they move "together as a team": they influence and inspire each other, and he calls the result "good synergy."
He then gives a personal example from fashion. He says he has gone through "phases" of competing with a particular member: once he wanted to dress better and cleaner than him, another time to look better in blazers, and another time to have a better "shades game." He calls it good to be surrounded by people who keep trying new things, and ends with a shout-out to his team.
Stage Mishaps: A Lost Sole and a Ripped Costume
When asked about their most embarrassing moment on stage, two members tell stories. The first says that while performing on a Korean TV show, the sole of his shoe came off mid-performance. He tripped and almost fell. When he later watched the fan-cam footage, he says he "looked terrible." The others joke that it looked like he was just adding a bit of footwork.
The second story, which also opens the video, happened at Tokyo Girls Collection. The member describes it as a very big event in Tokyo, and another member adds that it's a kind of fashion show. He explains that the runway stage was high, so fans were looking straight up at the performers. During the first song of the set list, his pants ripped right down the middle. He says he first thought, "Woah, why is it so windy here?" The others joke that "it was breathable."
Because it happened on the first song, he panicked about what to do. He says a bandmate he calls June helped him. He handed his mic to June and tied the jacket he happened to be wearing around his waist to cover the tear. Another member adds that, thankfully, he had black underwear on.
Who Is the Best Performer?
On the question of the best performer, the nominated member first gives a diplomatic answer: they're all good at performing. The others call that "too kind of an answer" and tell him to "be yourself" and not act for the camera. He then names himself, which the others say they saw coming.
The group teases him ("man, that's cringe") but also says they like the confidence. One member defends the answer on its own terms: when you perform, you have to perform as if you're the best, and that is why he thinks that way.
Petty Arguments, and the Kebab Incident in Detail
Asked about petty arguments, the members say they are all sensitive and get petty about everything. Food comes up again as the main issue. When someone says "it's got to be James," the conversation turns to the kebab story, with one member protesting "Stop."
The others insist it wasn't an argument. In their view, "he was wrong." Their version is that he ordered kebab before talking to anyone, when they are supposed to talk it out as a team and agree on an order. The member at the center of the story says the others didn't understand him and that the manager got mad at him while everyone "bashed" on him.
They then fill in the background. The manager said they were running late and had no time, and asked what everyone wanted to eat. In that rush, he chose kebab. His defense is simply that he thought the place was good. The group concludes that this argument "will be going forever and ever."
Getting Starstruck and Blurting Out Weird Comments
When asked who is most likely to freak out on meeting their favorite artist, one member first says he doesn't really freak out. When the pointer stops on another member, he accepts the nomination and agrees with the others that he is the one who gets most excited. The group says that when he finds something he's interested in, he "goes crazy."
He says that even running into BTS in the elevator still makes him fan out, and that he never gets used to it. The others add that when he gets starstruck or nervous, he blurts out weird things. Another member says he's often standing beside him wondering what he just said, while the starstruck member looks at him as if to say, "help me." He gives an example of the kind of thing he might stammer out ("I like your jacket, too"), denies that he stutters, and asks the others to understand that he's "just a little shy."
Ungatekeeping a Thrift Store
Asked to share a favorite thrift store, the nominated member says he usually keeps his spots to himself, but picks Second Street. The others immediately point out that it's a chain everyone knows and "you can't gatekeep Second Street," since it's in many countries. They mention Japan, LA, Korea, and New York.
He says James introduced him to Second Street when the group first came to LA, telling him they had to go thrift shopping there, and that this was when he realized he was into vintage. The members then mention Wasteland. They say they've been to the location on Fairfax but haven't yet had a chance to visit the one in Silver Lake, which they want to try. One member jokes that he thought they were keeping Wasteland to themselves.
American Slang Still in Progress
Asked which American slang they overuse, the members mention "for real," and then "low key" and "genuinely," which they say they recently learned from a staff member. One member says he's "very low key genuine," which shows the group's own point that they are still working out how to use these words. They admit they aren't good at slang yet and are still trying to work it into how they talk.
Would They Replace a Member for ASAP Rocky?
The hypothetical of replacing a member if ASAP Rocky wanted to join lands on the leader. The group treats it as the right person for the question. He first jokes by asking who's going to leave, then says a dog joining would be fun instead.
He then gives a serious answer. He expresses big respect for ASAP Rocky and says he hopes they can collaborate one day. He even says Rocky could join. But he says the five of them already are CORTIS, and that if one member left it "won't be CORTIS anymore," so they have to stick together. The group ends on a joke: Rocky is welcome to join anytime as "CORTIS Rocky."
Who Holds Grudges the Longest?
This question stumps the group at first. They call it a hard one. Eventually the others suggest one member "gets sad at times," though they say it's not really a grudge. According to them, he has said something like "I'm usually all right, but sometimes it does hurt my feelings" when they roast him. The member doing most of the roasting admits that he usually just laughs.
The member in question explains that it's not about emotions as such. He wants to look good on camera, and when everyone piles on him at once it feels bad. The others joke that trying to explain it makes him look even weirder. They conclude that they don't actually hold grudges, that they're "peaceful people," and that they talk things out on the spot.
What They Pretended to Like: Kebab, One Last Time
For the final question, what they pretended to like for the sake of the group, members first try answers about music. One says he doesn't like rock music. Another says he doesn't like classical music or Mozart. Then one member brings up the kebab order again. He says he told everyone at the time that he was fine with everything, but he actually "wasn't feeling it," and he apologizes.
The member who ordered kebab gives an exaggerated public apology, saying he's sorry for ordering kebab and will never do it again. The group predicts that the whole episode will be remembered as the one where he ordered kebab and everyone bashed him. The video ends with an open request to viewers: since the members weren't feeling that particular place, they ask people to recommend better kebab spots in the comments.
Whilst performing the first song on the set list, my pants ripped right in the middle. I'm like, "Woah, why is it so windy here?"
What's something you do that your bandmates find cringey?
Oh, wow. Oh. Oh, man. You should point at this guy. Oh, not me. This guy, this guy. Okay, okay. Man, he's a horrible person.
Yeah, when I was a MC for the Korean TV show, I actually did a wink. And it was so cringe. Yeah, I think they think it's cringe. But you all do.
Doing a wink is all right, but like how you did it was the problem. I mean, you can just wink, but like you're like... It's a different mode with, you know, when eyes goes like, you know.
I didn't do that, man. Can you show us the wink? Nah, you're for real? I wasn't ready for this. It was like... Nah, you're for real? I heard him say that for the first time. Yo.
What's the most debated topic in the CORTIS group chat?
Ooh, yeah. You're making me even more nervous. It's like... Oh, okay. Hold on. Okay, it's me, okay. Okay. I mean, I think this is... It's the easiest question. It's obvious. This one, food. Oh, yeah.
You know, we fight every time when we choose what to eat. Us five, we don't have like similar tastes. Like he likes kebab. Yeah, he likes kebab. He likes... this guy James like the junk food. He still claiming he has like a kebab. So we just order it like one by one.
Yeah. One day, actually we were trying to decide what to eat for lunch. Then we missed lunch. Whatever for dinner. Yeah, we're all like picky. Yeah, we're like, "Oh, you do it." So we need our manager. You do it. We're okay. I'm fine with everything. You do it. And then nobody knows what to eat and then the manager is like, "All right."
The most irritating thing is like, you know, I'm fine with anything. And then you're just like, "How about this?" And you're like... Bro, for real, man.
What's the most competitive moment you've had with someone here?
Competitive moment. With us? I mean, we all know. It's weird not to be competitive. Yeah.
You know, I feel like we're all competitive to each other. You know, it's like I don't want to look cooler than him. You know, you don't want to be like left behind, you know? If somebody is doing something new, you got to catch up. So like I feel like, you know, we're all competitive to each other, but in a good way. I feel like it's, you know, good synergy.
And back in the day when we used to be trainees, we always used to like, you know, compete like who is better at what, who was, you know, doing good or bad. We feedback each other to get better. So as a team, you know, we move together as a team. So we influence each other. We influence each other, inspire each other. So, I think it's a good synergy.
I wanted to, you know, dress up better than somebody. And there's phases. Like one time I wanted to dress up better than him, dress up cleaner than him. Like I wanted to look better in blazers. Once I wanted a better shades game than him, you know. It's good to have people around me like this that always like try new stuff and influence each other, you know. I got a great team, so shout out to them.
What's the most embarrassing moment that's happened to you on stage?
Oh, I have one. I have one recently. The pants one, right? Yeah. Oh, no. It's me.
So, we were doing a stage Korean TV show and we were performing watching one. And suddenly my shoes, the sole fell off. So, I kind of, you know, I kind of tripped. So, I almost fell down. After the stage I looked at the fan camera of it and I looked terrible. So, that was one. We're like hitting a little footwork like... Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.
I mean, that's fine. That's fine. I have too many. I have too many. We all got one. One of them happened recently. It was actually at this event called Tokyo Girls Collection. It was a very big event in Tokyo. It's like a fashion show.
And this runway, the stage is kind of like high. So, it's like the fans are like looking like this, like straight up like this. Whilst performing the first song on the set list, my pants ripped, like ripped right in the middle. I'm like, "Woah! Why is it so windy here?" You felt the air. Woah! It was breathable.
Why is it chilly here? And this is the first song of the set list, so I'm like, "Oh my god, what should I do?" And then like yeah, June actually helped me. So it's like I gave my mic to him and like I tied... Luckily I had a jacket, so it's like I tied my jacket. And like yeah, covered it. Covered. But thank god you had like black pants, black underwears under there.
Who is the best performer in the group?
Performer? It's kind of hard. No. No. Yep. Ooh, back again. No. Yep. The camera found the right guy. It's not me. They found the right guy. They're all good at perform. That's too kind of an answer.
When is the last time you've been this kind of bro? Be yourself, man. Be myself? Yeah. Be yourself. Don't act like in front of camera. Okay. You think it's me. Yeah, I knew that. I knew you would say that. There he is. There he is. Yeah, say less.
Man, that's cringe. I like the confidence. Yeah, man. Thank you, man. I'm messing with you. Thanks, man. I like it though. I mean, it is what it is. He said it. I mean like if you perform you got to perform like you're the best. Right. That's why he thinks.
What's a petty argument you have with your bandmates?
We're all good at sensitive and we're petty everything. It's like yeah, we're all sensitive. It's got to be James. Yes. It is. Stop.
What do we have? Food is one. Food. Yeah, food. Food is definitely the main thing. Biggest one. Yeah. But the kebab one is... No, there wasn't a petty argument. It's not an argument. It's just he was wrong. Yeah. No, y'all had an argument. Y'all didn't understand me. No. The manager was getting mad at me. They were bashing on me.
He ordered kebab before talking to us. We got to go as a team and like, you know, talk it out and like, "Okay, let's order this." Yeah. And then order kebab. But he's like, "Mhm, kebab." I'll order what I want. Kebab it is.
So, what happened was the manager was like, "What are y'all going to eat? We're running out of time. We don't have time today." And like, "We're running late." He chose kebab. I thought that place was good. So, what's the petty argument? Anyways. This argument will be going forever and ever. Okay. Okay. I think this one it is. No, it's this one.
Who's most likely to freak out over meeting their favorite artist?
Oh, I don't freak out, really. Oh, he thought it was you, Bailey. Yeah. Oh, it's you. Oh, it's you. Oh, it stopped. Okay, it's me. Maren. Yeah. That's him.
Yeah. I feel like he's the one who gets excited the most. Yeah. You know? Yeah. When he's found something he's interested in, like he goes crazy. Even just meeting, you know, BTS in the elevator, I think I still kind of fan out. It's like I don't... nervous, I never get used to it, you know?
They're like moments starstruck. When you get like starstruck or like somehow like nervous, you blurt out weird stuff. Me? Yeah, yeah. I would be a side like, what did you say? And you look at me like, help me. Yeah, that's true. Blurt out like weird awkward comments.
Sometimes like, I... I like your jacket, too. No, I don't stutter, bro. Something like that. I'm just a little shy. I'm just a little shy. Please understand me.
Ungatekeep your favorite thrift store.
Sometimes you want to keep your thrift shops to yourself. Oh, back again? Oh, you? Answer me. Yeah, yeah. I usually keep the spots to myself, but I'll go with Second Street. It's a chain. Everybody knows that. Everybody knows that place. Yeah, you can't gatekeep Second Street. You can't gatekeep Second Street. It's already every country. It's in every country. Japan, LA, but they were happening somewhere in Korea, New York.
Actually, James put me on to Second Street when we first came to LA. He was like, "Oh, we got to hit Second Street and go thrift shopping." And I was like, "All right." And that's when I was like, "Okay, so I'm into vintage."
Yeah, like we haven't had a chance to go to Wasteland in Silver Lake. Yeah. Oh, yeah, the other one. We got to go to the one on Fairfax. Fairfax. But, yeah. Definitely want to try the one in Silver Lake. Yeah. I thought we were keeping Wasteland to ourselves.
What's an American slang word that you overuse?
Oh, yeah. For real. For real. Yeah, recently we learned... Oh, was it... one slang, low key. Low key, genuinely. Genuinely. From a staff. Yeah, like low key and genuine. Genuinely. Yeah, genuinely. Yeah. Yeah. I'm very low key genuine.
We still don't... we are still working on how to use. Yeah. Yeah. We're trying to use it. We're trying to put it into you. We're not good at slangs.
Would you replace a group member if ASAP Rocky wanted to join CORTIS?
Good question. Yeah. Oh, no. They found the right person. The leader. Yes. So, who going to leave? I'm just playing. I'm just playing. Not ASAP Rocky. I mean, like just a dog would be fun. Just a nice dog and stuff.
No, but like ASAP Rocky, I mean, big respect to him and one day I wish we could collab. I mean, he can join. Yeah. But, like I think us five is already CORTIS. We're named CORTIS and I think if one leave, it won't be CORTIS anymore. So... Yeah. Yeah. And we got to stick together. We'll be open. You can join CORTIS anytime. You can be CORTIS Rocky. Yeah. Let's go. CORTIS Rocky.
Who holds grudges the longest?
Oh. He good. We don't wait for before we go. Oh, it's crazy. Zero crack. Oh, yeah. Oh, my. Oh. That's a hard one, actually. Yo, that's a very hard one. I don't know.
He gets sad at times. Me? Yeah. Sad? But like, I mean, it's not a grudge. It's more like... It's more like, "Oh, then you hurt me at the time." Yeah. And he's like, "Sometimes, when you roast me, I get hurt." Did I? Yeah, yeah. He's like, "I'm usually all right, but sometimes it does hurt my feelings." And then I'm like, "Oh." And I'm like, "Okay." Yeah, I'm like laughing. Okay. You made me look so dumb.
I'm like laughing. "Patty, bro, but I mean like, it wasn't that lame." But I'm like, I mean like, of course. It wasn't that bad, bro. It's just because like, I want to look, you know, I want to look good on camera, but like, when everybody is bashing on me, it just feels like, you know, you get me, right? It's not because of my emotions and feelings. It's more like... I understand. Man, trying to claim it, it looks weirder.
But I mean like, yeah, we don't hold grudges. We're peaceful people. We're cool. We're cool. We kind of talk it out on spot. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
What's something you pretended to like for the sake of the group?
I don't like all this. I don't like rock music. Ooh, I don't like classical music. I don't like Mozart. I don't like classical music. Ooh. Okay. Okay.
Okay, this is for me. For the sake of... Actually, when he ordered... When he ordered kebab. Oh, my. Stop. Okay. Kebab again. I was the only one that knew that. At the time I said I'm fine with everything, but... He wasn't feeling it. Yeah. I wasn't feeling that. I'm sorry, bro.
It's kebab. I'm sorry, everybody. I'm sorry for ordering kebab. I'll never do that again. I'm so sorry.
This whole episode is going to be about kebab. The main thing they remember is going to be like he ordered kebab and everybody's bashing him or... And in the comments y'all got to be recommending some good places, some good spots for kebab, bro. Yeah. I guess whatever spot that place was, they weren't feeling it, so give us another recommendation.
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