Mnet is facing criticism after announcing plans for a new dating reality show featuring rappers from its hit survival show Show Me The Money.
On June 24, the broadcaster revealed that it is preparing a dating program focusing on the male rappers who have appeared on Show Me The Money. At the same time, Mnet opened applications for female participants interested in participating in the show.
According to the recruitment notice, candidates must be women aged 19 or over. The production team said that shortlisted candidates will be contacted individually after the screening process.
Show Me The Money is one of South Korea’s most popular hip-hop survival shows. Its twelfth season, which aired this year, attracted more than 36,000 applicants, setting a new record for the most contestants in the show’s history.
However, the dating show’s announcement quickly sparked backlash among Korean netizens, many of whom questioned whether the franchise’s rappers were suitable candidates for a reality program focused on romance.
Some viewers criticized the concept itself, arguing that the show seemed designed to attract attention rather than offer meaningful entertainment.
Others pointed out the controversial lyrics and public images associated with some rappers, expressing concern about featuring them in a dating format. Some questioned whether the contestants’ past behavior and lyrics would become a source of controversy once the show began airing.
Several netizens predicted that the program might be full of scandals and public calls between participants rather than real romance, saying the premise already seems uncomfortable.
One commenter recalled a backstory about someone who dated a rapper for just three days but allegedly became the subject of his lyrics in the years that followed.
Others joked that the show would simply become a gathering of arrogant male rappers and aspiring influencers trying to get social media attention.
Some viewers have also questioned the necessity of the program, arguing that rappers often portray themselves as already popular with women, making the premise contradictory.
Interestingly, several netizens admitted that they were more curious about which rappers would be joining the cast than about the female participants themselves.
Many ultimately predicted that the show would attract women hoping to build careers as influencers, rather than contestants genuinely interested in finding love.
Selected K-Netizen reactions:
- “This is basically a gathering of people who love attention more than anyone else.”
- “Aren’t many rappers known for writing misogynistic lyrics? Is it really a good idea to bring up all those controversies from the past? If they date someone, won’t that relationship end up in a rap verse later?”
- “I can already imagine scandals and complaints among the cast members. It doesn’t sound fun at all, it’s just exhausting.”
- “This reminds me of the story where someone dated a rapper for three days and ended up in his lyrics for three years.”
- “A combination of arrogant rappers and women who want to become influencers.”
- “What exactly is this? Don’t rappers always brag about how popular they already are with women?”
- “I’m honestly more curious about which rappers will be competing than the female contestants.”
- “Essentially, it looks like a show that will bring together aspiring influencers.”
Sources: theqoo, Nate
