Chain reaction of personal scandals
The hottest spotlight is currently on Winter, one of aespa’s most popular members. Her alleged romantic involvement with BTS’ Jungkook sparked a huge debate, but what really angered fans was her reaction, or lack thereof. Rather than deny or subtly address the rumor, Winter appeared to subtly flaunt the relationship through matching tattoos, couple-style earbuds, and cryptic Instagram posts.
Fans perceived these actions as disrespectful and provocative, violating the unwritten code of mutual respect between idols and their supporters. SM Entertainment’s silence has only deepened fan resentment, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
In early November 2025, Ningning faced backlash in Japan for a seemingly innocent photo shared on a fan messaging app. The lamp he displayed bore an unfortunate resemblance to a “mushroom cloud,” a painful symbol for many Japanese citizens due to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The incident sparked national outrage, leading to nearly 90,000 signatures on a petition to ban the aespa from Kōhaku Uta Gassen, Japan’s prestigious year-end music extravaganza. Although aespa remain listed as artists, NHK has yet to issue an official position.
Adding to the chaos, Karina’s controversial social media post in May 2025 sparked widespread debate. While the exact contents remain ambiguous, its sensitive nature has fractured aespa’s once pristine public image and set the stage for fan disillusionment.
Decline in music quality and performance
aespa’s scandals might have been manageable if their music had remained strong. Unfortunately, their 2025 releases remained flat. Unlike Supernova, Armageddon and Whiplash of 2024, which consolidated their digital dominance, 2025 brought disappointment.
The Rich Man mini-album was meant to be a bold reinvention, showcasing street-rock aesthetics and female empowerment. Instead, he received brutal criticism. Netizens mocked the choreography as lifeless, with the members appearing disinterested on stage. Reputable music review platform IZM rated the album a dismal 2/5 stars, calling it a creative setback.
Even at an international level, aespa’s strategy to penetrate the US-British market has failed. Rather than impress with live vocals, they were often exposed to lip syncing. Numerous viral clips on social media have shown glaring discrepancies between audio and lip movements, damaging its credibility. In a market known for demanding authenticity, aespa’s reputation as “lip-syncing queens” has become an Internet meme.
A collapse of trust
The fall of aespa was not due to a single incident but to a complex erosion of trust. Fans might forgive isolated missteps, but repeated scandals, management evasiveness and declining musical quality paint a bleak picture. After being the crown jewel of K-pop Gen 4, aespa now find themselves at a crossroads, with their future uncertain amid a storm of public doubt.
Sources: kenh14
