SM Entertainment Accused of Mistreating aespa Amid Hearts2Hearts Controversy

aespa Karina is facing backlash after SM Entertainment’s new girl group Hearts2Hearts member Ian covered Karina’s solo track “UP.” Fans say this is part of SM sidelining aespa to push the rookies.

The controversy began when MBC announced Ian would perform “UP” at the 2025 MBC Gayo Daejejeon. Fans quickly noticed Karina herself never had the chance to promote the song on major broadcasts.

Karina only performed “UP” at aespa concerts and once at WATERBOMB Seoul. No music show stage. No solo promotions. No official dance practice video from SM — all things expected for a hit solo track.

Soon after Ian’s cover stage, Hearts2Hearts posted a full dance practice video of Ian’s version of “UP.” This pushed fans into full outrage. Karina still hasn’t gotten a dance practice video for the original.

no UP or good stuff dance pratice but this nugu got everything karina supposed to get…
— . (@krn70000)

dropped EVEN a dance practice u can’t make this sht up
— ͏ ͏ ً (@rinafication)

Fans called out SM for using aespa’s success to hype their new girl group while neglecting Karina’s solo promotions.

first it was a festival stage and now dance practice while karina herself didnt even get the chance to have her own dance practice video like wdym a junior get more promo for her cover stage than the original artist sm got to be the most useless dumb shit company to ever exist
— (@icurina)

this better be a joke… like i used to like ian but this is pissing me off. where is karina’s dance practice for up? oh. nowhere. the audacity to do this..
— lexi! ୨ৎ (@lexisgarden)

Ian has also been hit with heavy hate for the cover and dance practice.