Recently, BABYMONSTER, YG’s new girl group, made their comeback with their debut full album Drip and its title track MV of the same name. Despite being a girl group under one of Korea’s top entertainment companies, BABYMONSTER has faced a series of “flop setbacks” due to YG’s unusual promotional strategies. While the album has been praised for its catchy, trendy music that captivates listeners, YG has yet to let the seven “little monsters” appear on any promotional shows.
The group’s first live performance of the new song won’t take place until next week. In the meantime, YG has released a few pre-recorded videos, including a dance performance video for Drip.
Despite releasing a strong song, the choreography for Drip has left many fans unsatisfied. On the morning of November 6, BABYMONSTER’s Chinese fans sent a protest truck to YG’s headquarters, demanding better promotion for the group and changes to the choreography. The Drip choreography has sparked mixed opinions across K-pop forums, with Ahyeon, BABYMONSTER’s main performer, being the center of most discussions.
Ahyeon has several solo lines in Drip, but her performance energy has been described as lackluster, with her moves seeming half-hearted and merely for show. She also refrains from showcasing her signature hair flips or power moves, making her center-stage moments feel overshadowed by other members. For the same dance moves, Ahyeon is noticeably out of sync compared to the youngest member, Chiquita, and her stage presence appears less captivating.
Earlier, on July 20th, BABYMONSTER attended the TMEA 2024 awards ceremony in Macau, China. YG’s rookie girl group delivered an explosive performance with a series of their songs, including their newly released track FOREVER. Despite being a newly debuted group, BABYMONSTER’s performance skills are always highly rated. The members’ stage presence and vocals received much praise.
The rookie visual causing a storm.
As the “ace” member with the most Chinese fans in BABYMONSTER, Ahyeon naturally took the spotlight on the TMEA 2024 stage. Immediately after the performance, Ahyeon and BABYMONSTER became a hot topic among Chinese netizens. Besides the shower of compliments for her surreal visuals and energetic stage presence, Ahyeon was unexpectedly accused of being lazy in her dancing, causing confusion among fans.
Not long ago, Ahyeon stirred up controversy for being too enthusiastic during performances. The idol was criticized for “overdancing,” being excessive, and overshadowing other members. Ahyeon’s personal energy was so prominent that it “broke the boundaries of diligence.” Although this caused mixed opinions, Ahyeon’s performance spirit made some fans proud.
Yet now, Ahyeon is being accused of being lazy in her dancing. Netizens pointed out a few moments where Ahyeon displayed a bored expression and half-hearted moves while dancing to FOREVER. These images quickly spread, sparking a wave of opposition against the Gen Z idol. Many compared Ahyeon to Jennie, claiming that “both YG princesses are lazy dancers.” Both Jennie and Ahyeon have excellent stage presence but constantly spark controversy over their dancing skills.
Indeed, recently, Ahyeon has toned down significantly when performing the new song FOREVER. She no longer shows excessive expressions, and her moves are more controlled. This has earned Ahyeon positive feedback, with people praising her for listening to the audience’s opinions. However, some anti-fans have fabricated stories about Ahyeon being tired of dancing.
Once again, Ahyeon faces a “storm” of negative comments. In response to the controversy, BABYMONSTER fans are fervently defending the rookie idol. Fans argue that netizens are being too harsh on Ahyeon, even applying “double standards,” criticizing her no matter what she does.
Additionally, the moment Ahyeon was accused of being lazy was just a fleeting few seconds when the group was changing formations, and there is no basis to confirm that she was lazy in dancing. Ahyeon’s FOREVER fancam at TMEA is still going viral due to its captivating nature. Watching the full performance, it is evident that Ahyeon performed with her usual enthusiasm. Her star presence makes it impossible for fans to take their eyes off her.
Below are some comments from netizens:
- You guys discouraged a hard-working person first and are now complaining about her slacking off?
- Well, even if she’s tired from the negative comments, dancing like this is taking it too far. She should have been more receptive to legit criticism
- After debuting, they continued to promote without resting, and after repeating the stage countless times, it’s only natural to lose strength for a moment. It’s not like she insincere the whole time on stage, and all you can bring up is a few seconds clip
- That’s because after Asa’s part, it was Ahyeon’s part, so she danced less energetically to make the live singing better
- Already? She is repeating Jennie?
- You guys first criticized her for “over-performing”, and now you are whining about her slacking… Stop nitpicking
Source: Pann Nate
