K-pop artists who attended the rapper formerly known as Kanye West’s concert, including NewJeans, aespa and 2NE1, are facing backlash from fans online due to controversies surrounding him.
Ye presented on Friday his “Ye x Ty Dolla Sign Vultures Listening Experience” at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi province, marking his first appearance in South Korea in 14 years.
The rapper’s previous visit was in 2010 when he appeared at the “Summer Week & T” hip-hop festival at Naksan Beach in Gangwon province.
Controversy erupted the next day when online posts criticising the presence of NewJeans members Minji, Hanni and Danielle at Ye’s concert began to surface. Underage members Hyein and Haerin did not attend the event.
Some questioned whether the group was aware of Ye’s controversial past, referencing his actions, such as the release of his 2016 song Famous, which featured lyrics widely condemned as sexually harassing American pop singer Taylor Swift.
In 2022, Ye drew criticism for attending a “Nyotaimori” event, often referred to as “body sushi,” during which sushi is served on a naked woman’s body, at a birthday party with his then nine-year-old daughter and praising Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in an interview.
The criticism extended to other K-pop celebrities present at the concert, including girl group aespa members Winter and Giselle, Red Velvet’s Seulgi, 2NE1 members CL and Minzy, solo singer Jeon So-mi, rappers Zion. T and Dean and boy band Treasure members Jihoon and Choi Hyun-suk.
Some defended the artists, saying the concert’s high-profile nature may have motivated them to attend the concert.
“Maybe they just went because it was a famous singer’s concert,” one commented. Another added, “We should separate personal controversy from their work of art,” noting, “It seems like the stars in attendance were merely invited.”
Initially billed as a listening party, Ye’s concert drew immense attention globally as it unexpectedly turned into a full two-hour-and-30-minute live performance featuring 74 songs, including his early hits Stronger and Good Life.
The surprise show thrilled the 35,000 fans in attendance, marking Ye’s first live performance since July 2022.
This story was first published by The Korea Times
