Aespa’s Giselle Faces Backlash for Disrespecting BLACKPINK’s Jennie
aespa’s Giselle is facing backlash for her reaction during BLACKPINK Jennie’s performance at the 2025 Melon Music Awards.
The controversy began after a clip went viral showing idols’ reactions on stage. Giselle caught attention for sitting with her chin resting on her hand and legs crossed — a posture many felt was indifferent and disrespectful.
Korean netizens slammed her behavior, calling it “inappropriate” especially during a senior artist’s stage like Jennie’s.
The criticism picked up steam on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter).
To idols these days: you are not “world-class.”
You’re just riding off the status built by your third-generation seniors, living off the scraps they left behind, while being one of the main reasons K-pop has become boring and started to decline. You lip-sync all the time, then stand there unable to even sing your own parts. You have no real artistry, no individuality, no skill, just idols who make money purely by selling a pseudo-dating fantasy.
— YouTube Comment
Fans compared Giselle’s reaction to others at the show who were more engaged. One user noted that when G-Dragon performed, everyone stood up and enjoyed the stage, but Giselle stayed seated with her chin propped up and legs crossed throughout Jennie’s performance.
Honestly, I hadn’t really thought much about aespa-related controversies up until now… but seeing Giselle sitting there with her chin propped on her hand and her legs crossed during Jennie’s stage made me go, “Yeah, this is kind of not it.”
— Fan on X
When it was G-Dragon, everyone stood up together and really got into it.
But Giselle kept her chin propped on her hand and didn’t uncross her legs until the very end.
At least IVE and Zico tried to react enthusiastically.
— Fan on X
I really don’t think Jennie would sit there watching an aespa performance with her chin propped on her hand and her legs crossed. Seeing her watch a stage by seniors like that… honestly.
Since she’s an idol, she would’ve definitely received training that even points out posture and things like that. And this was in a place with tons of eyes on her too… resting her chin like that (which she would know better than anyone). It’s kind of surprising. I feel like this deserves to get a lot of criticism.
— YouTube Comment
The video sparking the drama was embedded in this Koreaboo article:
More social media posts also slammed Giselle’s reaction as disrespectful:
To.에스파 pic.twitter.com/UgeDfjggmd
— 민정고릴라 (@h2uaisl3v) December 21, 2025
에스파 ㅈㄴ 무례함 pic.twitter.com/w7PW9JCJMV
— 민정고릴라 (@h2uaisl3v) December 21, 2025
ㅅㅈㅎ 반응 좀 너무했음
지디땐 다같이 일어나서 즐기더니
지젤은 턱 괴면서 끝날때까지 다리꼰거 안풀더라 아이브랑 지코 그나마 반응 열시미해주고.. https://t.co/769TGIzUfO pic.twitter.com/3nwqcmVNGm— y (@y_whywhy__yy) December 21, 2025
As the situation develops, fans are debating whether Giselle’s reaction signals disrespect, or if the backlash is overblown. No official statement has been made by aespa or their agency yet.