aespa’s Karina has become the subject of criticism following the group’s recent appearance in Brazil, with one particular interaction during their send-off going viral among local fans.
aespa recently performed in Brazil, where fans who attended the event also had the opportunity to see the members during a send-off afterward. However, the send-off itself received criticism from some attendees who felt that the interaction was far shorter and less personal than expected.
not aespa social distancing during VIP send off, they hate their fans 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/nIQo9c6oeE
— WHITEMAMBA (@THEOGWHITEMAMBA) September 5, 2026
According to fans, the aespa members largely walked through the aisle in front of attendees, waving and acknowledging them as they passed. Some complained that the members did not stop for photographs or spend as much time interacting with individual fans as idols sometimes do during similar send-off benefits.
One moment involving Karina subsequently attracted particular attention. As Karina passed in front of the crowd, a fan attempted to hand her a letter. Karina reached toward it and appeared to briefly pinch the letter between two fingers, meaning it was already partially in her grasp.
ela olhando pro segurança pegar a carta da mão dela e tocando só com a pontinha do dedo, parece que tava com nojo da menina que entregou pic.twitter.com/DjhUhRgGIa
— marie៹ (@jungriey) September 5, 2026
Rather than taking it, however, she looked toward a nearby security guard. The guard immediately intervened and prevented the fan from handing the letter over. Karina then continued moving while making what appeared to be a disappointed or sad expression.
A netizen accused Karina of being disgusted by her own fan.
She’s looking at the security guard to take the letter out of her hand, and she’s only touching it with the very tip of her finger. It looks like she was disgusted by the girl who handed it to her
— jungriey
Others felt Karina could simply have accepted the letter once it was already in her hands, and went as far as to call her “two-faced.”
não mas isso aqui me deu um ódio. ela tocou na carta era só ter pegado, mas ela esperou o segurança impedir. “ai mas elas não podem pegar” tem um monte de idol que mesmo não podendo pegam presente, dão autógrafo, ela não pegou pq NÃO QUIS e ainda faz essa cara, achei é bem sonsa https://t.co/dc83JRe2TD
— rê 🖤 (@curiousjimin) September 6, 2026
No, but this seriously pissed me off. She touched the letter, she could’ve just taken it, but instead she waited for security to stop it.
‘Oh, but they’re not allowed to accept things.’ There are tons of idols who still accept gifts and give autographs even when they’re technically not allowed to.
She didn’t take it because SHE DIDN’T WANT TO, and then she makes that face afterward. I thought she was being really two-faced about it.
— curiousjimin
They ultimately accused Karina of simply not wanting to accept it, while simultaneously making an expression that suggested she felt bad about the situation. The Portuguese word “sonsa” used by the fan carries a particularly negative nuance. Depending on context, it can describe someone as two-faced, fake, disingenuous, sly, or someone who acts innocent despite knowing exactly what they are doing.
As the clip spread, critics similarly questioned why Karina had reached for the letter at all if she knew she was not permitted to accept it. For them, looking toward security rather than simply taking something that was already within her grasp made the subsequent disappointed expression feel insincere.
However, others have pushed back against placing the responsibility entirely on Karina, claiming that security and event organizers frequently impose restrictions on what artists can accept directly from fans, particularly during fast-moving send-offs.
The controversy nevertheless compounded existing complaints surrounding the Brazil send-off, as some attendees already felt they had received less interaction than expected from the members.