Aespa Karina’s New TikTok Ignites Fierce Fan Debate
Karina is facing backlash over her heavy presence in aespa’s “Rich Man” TikTok promotions amid a short music show run.
The controversy started as aespa’s new track dropped September 5, but fans quickly noticed the group’s brief music show schedule. Instead, SM Entertainment pushed TikTok challenges where Karina is the mainface, appearing in every collaboration video so far.
Karina’s latest TikTok with rapper and TV personality Lee Young Ji triggered mixed reactions online. Some fans appreciated her effort to keep promotions lively outside official schedules. Others questioned why only Karina was involved and why other aespa members were barely seen.
Here’s the clip from aespa’s official Twitter showing the collab:
I am a RichMan with #YOUNGJIhttps://t.co/0B6GBCqzGl#aespa #æspa #에스파#KARINA #카리나#RichMan #aespaRichMan#영지 pic.twitter.com/5OQDX07yfn
— aespa (@aespa_official) September 9, 2025
Other TikTok collabs also spotlight Karina with stars like Sunmi, HYO, and IVE’s Ahn Yujin and Lee Seo. Fans argue SM’s approach leans heavily on Karina, sidelining other members and music show promotions.
Some fans slammed SM and Karina’s solo spotlight:
Naysa (@dtixr)
Might as well disband aespa already so SM can fully treat Karina like their princess
September 9, 2025
Others defended Karina hard, praising her hustle during downtime and calling out lazy members:
KARINA INDONESIA (@SEKARINA_ID)
Not Karina promoting Rich Man better than SM. Imagine having a day off, hanging out with your friends, and still managing to do the challenge.
SM need to pay her more
September 9, 2025
jaxx (@jaxxeuz)
u should be thankful karina better promoting rich man than sm. y’all complain a lot, why don’t u ask ur favs to do a tiktok and promote rich man too? or they’re js lazy lol
September 10, 2025
ꨄ︎ k (@bluuist)
– yujin and leeseo are karina’s friends so they took a challenge together.
– sunmi said it’s a challenge together with katarinabluu bcs her song title is blue, hence they took rich man too.
– she celebrates youngji’s birthday and still thinking about promoting her group
but mys:
September 9, 2025
Meanwhile, some argue other members might just not be interested in TikTok challenges at all:
♡ (@for_yjm)
genuine question to the mys and other people crying in the quotes, how do we know the other members didn’t just… want to make tiktoks… like maybe they just don’t want to ask other artist to do their dance challenge… have we ever considered that…
September 9, 2025
Fans remain split as the “Rich Man” era goes on. Karina is under the spotlight, balancing fan praise and criticism. aespa is currently prepping for US promotions, leaving questions about future group promo strategies.