Pop singer Adele faced criticism from her Korean fans after using an image of the Japanese Rising Sun flag during a concert in Germany.

In response to the backlash, Adele removed the image from the concert footage without issuing a formal apology.

Adele held a solo concert at a special stadium in Munich, Germany, Aug. 2. During the performance, Adele displayed a collage on a large 커뮤니티 outdoor screen that included several images of the Rising Sun flag, a symbol associated with Japan’s military aggression during World War II.

Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University who has been leading a global campaign against the use of the Rising Sun flag, immediately sent a protest email to Adele’s team.

Many others also flooded Adele’s social media with critical comments. According to Seo, some concertgoers reported that the video shown at subsequent performances had been edited to remove the flag.