aespa member Giselle has once again become the center of heated discussion after an unusual moment during her recent livestream sparked widespread debate across K-pop forums and social media.
During her latest broadcast, Giselle decided to tease a portion of her new, unreleased music. However, instead of generating excitement, the moment produced an unexpected and rather awkward outcome. As soon as the new track preview began, the livestream’s viewer count noticeably dropped.
According to data captured from clips now circulating online, the livestream initially had more than 44,000 concurrent viewers. Within just 30 seconds of Giselle playing the new song snippet, the number reportedly fell to around 36,100 viewers—a sharp decline of over 8,000 people. This phenomenon runs counter to the usual livestream trend, where exclusive music previews tend to boost engagement or at least maintain viewer numbers.
The sudden drop immediately raised questions about Giselle’s actual drawing power. Many netizens bluntly commented that the song preview lacked a strong hook, describing the melody as unmemorable and failing to meet expectations. As excitement faded, viewers appeared to exit the livestream en masse, fueling speculation that interest in her solo musical direction may be weaker than anticipated.
This incident has also prompted renewed discussion about Giselle’s difficult career trajectory. Born in 2000 under the name Uchinaga Aeri, Giselle serves as the main rapper of aespa. With Japanese–Korean heritage and a record-short trainee period at SM Entertainment, she was initially introduced as a highly anticipated member. However, reality proved harsher.
In aespa’s early years, Giselle was frequently labeled the group’s “visual hole,” facing relentless criticism over her looks, body proportions, and on-stage presence compared to fellow members Karina, Winter, and Ningning. Her abilities were also constantly scrutinized, leading to the long-standing stigma of being “talentless” despite her distinctive rap tone and strong language skills.
Dance performance, in particular, became her biggest weakness. Her lack of power and frequent timing issues stood out during group stages, especially alongside technically stronger members. Styling choices by her agency further worsened public perception, with ill-fitting and outdated outfits often amplifying negative commentary. At her lowest point, Giselle was even mocked as a “background dancer” within her own group.
In recent years, however, Giselle has undergone what many describe as a “duck-to-swan” transformation. Her visuals, physique, and stage charisma have improved dramatically, helping her gain a strong international fanbase. With a leaner figure, confident expressions, and sharper styling, she has largely shaken off her early image. Still, her transformation has not come without controversy, as rumors of excessive cosmetic procedures persist due to moments where her facial expressions appear stiff or unnatural.
More recently, Giselle’s image has also been affected by dating rumors involving RIIZE’s Shotaro, after netizens spotted allegedly matching phone screen details. Combined with these personal controversies, the livestream view drop has been interpreted by some as a reflection of her current standing.
Despite her visible efforts to reinvent herself, Giselle appears to be struggling to secure consistent recognition for her musical output. While her visuals and global appeal have improved significantly, public opinion suggests that questions surrounding her artistic substance and musical competitiveness remain unresolved.