The highly anticipated Only boys the stage show was officially canceled at MAMA Awards 2025 following the tragic skyscraper fire in Hong Kong that killed more than 128 people.
The show, originally scheduled for the second day of the awards show on November 29, was intended to bring back the fictional idol group from Netflix’s upcoming animated series. KPop Demon Hunters. The lineup included Leehan (BOYNEXTDOOR), Wonbin (RIIZE), Shinyu (TWS), and Park Gun Wook and Han Yu Jin (ZEROBASEONE). These idols were to perform as part of a collaboration known as Only boysthemed Only Jeoseung —grim reaper of Korean folklore.
However, in light of the terrible fire that broke out on November 26 in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, organizers decided to tone down the scale and atmosphere of the event. Pyrotechnics and flashy stage effects were removed, and any stage concepts deemed insensitive, such as death-related imagery, were erased entirely.
The Hong Kong government has declared a three-day national mourning period starting November 29. In response, MAMA organizers sought to maintain a solemn tone, saying they would proceed with the awarding of prizes but would adapt the on-stage presentations to align with the local atmosphere of mourning.
While Only boys‘ the service was withdrawn, another KPop Demon Hunters group, Huntresswill still appear on stage as scheduled, with BabyMonster’s Pharita, Ahyeon and Rora performing the song Golden.
This development highlights the industry’s growing sensitivity to global events. The cancellation highlights how popular large-scale K-pop events are MOM must now deal not only with production logistics and fan expectations, but also the moral implications of global tragedies.
Sources: Xportsnews, Soompi, Allkpop, The Korea Times
