The September 12 performance marked the group’s first U.S. promotion for the track, which was released as the lead single of their sixth EP earlier this month. With an English version and even a remix featuring Sevdaliza dropping around the same time, all eyes were on Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning to deliver a standout moment.
But once the stage aired, the conversation quickly shifted from excitement to disappointment.
Clips from the broadcast spread across social media within hours, and reactions were far from kind. Many viewers felt the performance lacked spark, with comments like “no aura, zero energy” and “lacking stage presence” appearing again and again.
Some accused the group of leaning too heavily on lip-syncing, while others thought the choreography looked stiff and awkward without their usual lineup of backup dancers. A few fans even said the group seemed to rely on camera tricks more than their own stage power.
To make matters worse, the segment was abruptly cut off by a commercial break, leaving the ending awkwardly unfinished. That small detail only added fuel to the already growing pile of criticisms.
FIRE THE CHOREOGRAPER
RIGHT NOW.
imaging promoting at gma and someones first impression of you is this.😭
they did aespa so dirty pic.twitter.com/oUpDuqmfEw— lux (@bunstawberry) September 12, 2025
Among the members, Karina ended up shouldering the harshest critiques. Her rap and dance break, usually considered one of the group’s highlights, was called underwhelming by some. Harsh comments labeled her “mediocre,” though defenders were quick to clap back, arguing that her skills were being unfairly downplayed and that the online outrage was exaggerated.
This polarized response kept her name trending, with fans either protecting her reputation or dissecting every second of her moves.
The performance also triggered a wave of comparisons to other Kpop acts who previously appeared on the same show. Some netizens drew parallels to BTS’ 2018 GMA performance of “IDOL”, pointing out aespa’s stage lacked the same energy and polish. Others mentioned BLACKPINK, noting the difference in synchronization and overall delivery.
Why does the camera work for the pinks in gma is so much better than whatever they did with aespa? pic.twitter.com/J1xjyBNusT
— lau💫 (@jetwoholiday) September 12, 2025
While comparisons in Kpop are nothing new, the constant measuring against senior groups fueled more heated arguments across fandom spaces.
It wasn’t all negative, though. Some international fans praised aespa simply for landing a stage on such a mainstream American program, reminding critics that technical issues, camera choices, and cultural differences often affect how Kpop groups come across on U.S. television.
Others argued that while the performance wasn’t flawless, it didn’t deserve the level of mockery it received, calling it an “average stage that people are blowing out of proportion.”
