Netizens are not having it.
aespa has found itself amid an unexpected controversy over their recent TV appearance.
The aespa members recently appeared on a show broadcast by the Japanese streaming service ABEMA, where they were supposedly part of a hidden camera segment. During a supposed prank, one of the assistant directors dropped some items during the recording. The members immediately checked on the staff and helped them pick up the items off the floor.
kpop company: “i have an idea to fix their image problem and reputation”
this shit is more scripted than reality shows 😭 pic.twitter.com/cDZnaXd3il
— WHITEMAMBA (@THEOGWHITEMAMBA) September 22, 2026
The clip of this prank has since gone massively viral on X, sparking scathing ridicule. Netizens saw it as a “scripted” attempt to sanitize aespa’s image, and even criticized the members’ reaction to the staff member’s accident.
The way staff look awkward and
Didn’t immediately take those things so aespa member can help them
😭😭
This is so scripted https://t.co/BVCHcjoDiV— 39Svargaskara (@svargaskara) September 22, 2026
Why is Karina asking are you ok? Girl it’s just some marker pens that fell https://t.co/4C6gMViH7t
— ⚞^. .^⚟ (@NE0NSALAD) September 22, 2026
the way the staff were just waiting for them to pick it up is sending me 😭 https://t.co/4qjhONBVvG
— 🦂 (@lovethve) September 22, 2026
karina: just asking „are you okay“ before standing up 😐
winter: picked up a single pen and looking proud of herself for doing that 💀
ningning: gave staff one pencil that was right in front of her despite being closest to the mess 🫠
giselle: didn‘t even bother standing up 🫢 https://t.co/6kwwtPj0vq
— vava (@vavawonyoung) September 22, 2026
The lady throws the pens on the floor and doesn’t even try picking them up xdd
Then aespa take 10 seconds to realise they are supposed to pretend to care https://t.co/fyFG9zGgpt
— illit gem (@illiesgem) September 22, 2026
the way they weren’t even gonna pick up the markers until the staff had to signal them 😭 https://t.co/GTki64aUoL
— rim ✦ (@bratzlibra) September 22, 2026
However, fans feel that these critics missed the very context of the clip. The segment was indeed scripted and was meant to gauge the members’ reaction to an accident mid-filming. The awkwardness of the moment was raw and not something to criticize them over.