K-Pop Updates: Week of October 20

The K-pop world is always buzzing, and last week delivered a whole lot bunch of headlines. They revolved around controversial performances and award show rule changes. Plus, there were some powerful statements from idols to consider. Read on for more details.

Comprehensive Run-Down

On the October 20 episode of the BeBoss TV vlog, the host provided a major rundown of all the latest events. They noted that the updates were “packed with big news and shocking reveals.” Once again, BLACKPINK faced intense scrutiny. Notably, a clip of the group performing “Pink Venom” went viral for the wrong reasons.

That came after their performance at the “Deadline concert” in Taiwan, where they might have been feeling the pressure. Some critics claimed the members seemed “tired and unmotivated.” Meanwhile, others felt that the overall “performance felt lazy and messy.”

Sullyoon & MAMA Awards Controversy

The next major topic involved Sullyoon of NMIXX, who demonstrated how to handle online hate with grace. After a rude comment about her body, she responded with a clever and light-hearted quip. Of course, fans loved her reaction because she demonstrated a true “quiet strength.”

Next, BeBoss looked into the 2025 MAMA Awards. While meant to be a joyful event, it also created controversy for this year. Apparently, the rules changed in what many see as a “shocking” move. Going forward, the judges’ score now counts for a hefty “40 percent.” Naturally, many K-Pop fans worry that the new system “gives judges too much control,” making the results feel less “fair or transparent.”

aespa’s Karina & Giselle

Then, several idols found themselves at the center of viral backlash. A post criticizing aespa’s Karina, listed several alleged “scandals” from the past four months. Notably, it “questioned her attitude,” and accused her of being “careless.”

Additionally, her groupmate, Giselle, faced criticism after a video of her “appearing drunk” while leaving a charity event, circulated online. In related drama, BTS’s V became an unexpected target, with netizens “resurfac[ing] old scandals” and past incidents.

Some Bright Spots

Fortunately, it wasn’t all negativity and gossip. There were some bright spots. During the W Korea Love Your W event, which drew criticism for its tone-deaf atmosphere, Weeekly’s Monday earned widespread praise.

That’s because the star took a moment to remind everyone of the event’s true purpose. Many observers felt the attitude resulted in the only “remark of the night that truly reflected the campaign’s goal.”

TWICE’s Sell-Out Power & TXT’s Leak

In other news, TWICE’s Tzuyu made waves for a different reason after the group’s Victoria’s Secret performance. The merch “pink tank top” and “$39.95 bra” she wore sold fast. Fans joked about the item online, with one popular comment dubbing it the “Tzuyu Bombshell Bra.”

Finally, TXT’s Yeonjun sent fans into a frenzy when the cover for his solo debut EP, No Labels, Part 01, accidentally “leaked.” The image featured a shirtless Yeonjun. While some Korean fans found it too bold, the leak only made more excitement for the highly anticipated November release.

Fans React In The Comments

With nearly 300K subscribers, it’s not surprising that the comments section filled up fast. One follower opined, “Karina doesn’t have scandals. Netzens are picking on her because they hate her and she’s the most popular 4th gen girl rn.”

Here are few more responses from the discussion area:

• idk you can hate me all ya’ll want but haters keep claiming that they don’t like blackpink but are somehow always tuned in to their performances and tour, purposely trying to find something to criticize or complain abt.
• tzuyu is a queen, she looks gorgeous on that outfit , also its victoria secret so she actually needs to dress like that , the hate and backlash is just so forced ngl.
• the best new artist new criteria are kinda sus tho. I followed MAMA since 2015 and new artist nominee always have 2 category, male and female, but this year suddenly only have 1 category.
• glad sullyoon could gracefully shut that hater up… like what?