White influencer Oli London says he identifies as Korean after cosmetic surgeries to look like BTS's Jimin

Oli London, a non-binary influencer who is white, has gone viral as of Monday, when they revealed they had recently had no less than 18 cosmetic surgeries to mimic the look of Park Ji-min (better known as Jimin) of popular Korean boyband BTS.

In a video posted to their Twitter, in which London is still wrapped in bandages from their surgeries, they said, "I identify with the Korean community. Maybe they will accept me more now because I have ‘the look.' Maybe people will think I'm actually Korean, which will make me really happy. They can see how much I love their culture. This is the extreme length that I have gone to because I love Korea so much."

They continued, "I just want to make Jimin proud as well. Jimin is my ultimate idol and I want him to be proud. I'm sure he'll be proud that I look exactly like him now. I have his eyes. I finally have Jimin's Korean eyes and they're so, so beautiful. I'm so, so happy with my new look and I can't wait to see the final results when all the swelling goes down."

According to a previous YouTube video posted by the influencer on Saturday, their surgeries have included a facelift, brow lift, temple lift, eye surgery and a dental procedure.

In that same video, titled "Being Korean," and in honour of Pride Month, London came out as non-binary, and said, "I am gonna come out today and say that I've been transitioning. ... I do identify as Korean, I do look Korean now, I feel Korean, I don't identify as British. ... I also identify as Jimin, that's my Korean name."

It's a change London has been working at for years, first getting cosmetic surgery in 2013, and having spent anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000.

Needless to say, they've been receiving considerable backlash on social media. Twitter users have called them out for using "[their] platform to disrespect, infantilize and fetishize Asians on a daily basis," and said that claiming to now be Korean is both "offensive" and "a mockery of trans people." Many have called for a block or boycott of London.

Still, others have also come to their defence, using the hashtag #StopTransRacialHate, claiming there is no difference between a person who identifies as another sex and someone who identifies as another race.

But here's the thing: "transracial" does not mean what London and their supporters think it does. It's actually used in reference to children of colour who are adopted by families of a different race, typically white.

London's version of this is not a real concept, which is something we learned during the 2015 saga that was Rachel Dolezal, a former American college instructor who made waves when she was exposed for being white – despite claiming to be Black for many years, going so far as tanning her skin, wearing traditionally Black hairstyles, teaching African American history, and even being the head of her local N.A.A.C.P. chapter.

London is no different. Cosmetic surgery cannot craft a person of colour for countless reasons, most especially that a Korean person's lived experience, culture and history are what leads to their "being Korean." London has not lived through those experiences or the ensuing marginalization as a white person, and certainly has not caught up to them in the days since their surgeries.

It's all fine and well to fan over BTS – the best of us do! – but this is 18 steps too far and an egregious instance of cultural appropriation. It is not racist to say London is not Korean, despite "feeling Korean." What is, is their assertion that they can "become" Korean through changing their physical features, eating Korean food, using Korean skincare products and speaking the language.

But it is also clear that London's mental health may not be stable, and that's a necessary conversation to be had. In Saturday's YouTube video, they said, "I've really struggled with identity issues, with who I am. It's a very tough one." That struggle may be misguided and ongoing, and is a reminder that we cannot discuss issues of identity without also addressing mental health. And that when one has as large a platform as London's, it's worth assessing who is listening and what message is being sent. Because while some of London's fans are calling out their cultural appropriation, others have denied it. And that's a big problem.

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[video_embed id='2207251']BEFORE YOU GO: BTS smash YouTube premiere record with ‘Butter’[/video_embed]