K-Pop group Aespa’s members slammed for attending Kanye West’s South Korea show as fans ask ‘what were you thinking?’

SEVERAL K-pop artists have been criticized for attending Kanye West’s concert in South Korea in light of his recent controversies.

Fans expressed their disappointment on X after pictures showed Aespa members Giselle and Winter, both 23, at a high-profile Vultures 2 listening party in Seoul on August 23.

Kanye West, now known as Ye, dressed in an all-black outfit during an outing in March this yearCredit: The Mega Agency

Giselle and Winter of aespa attend aespa’s The 1st Album ‘Armageddon’ press conference at Blue Square in Yongsan-gu on May 27, 2024 in Seoul, South KoreaCredit: Getty

Kanye West attends the Marni fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 on February 23, 2024 in Milan, ItalyCredit: Getty

Vultures 2 is the rap star’s second collaborative album with Ty Dolla Sign, after the release of Vultures in February 2024.

The show marked the Stronger singer’s first performance in the country since 2010 when Kanye, now known as Ye, appeared at a hip-hop festival in Gangwon Province.

Giselle and Winter were part of a group of prominent K-pop stars, including NewJeans members Minji, Hanni, and Danielle, who were called out by fans over their support for Ye.

Several X users questioned their decision to attend the show, highlighting Ye’s biggest controversies to date.

The rapper faced widespread backlash in 2022 for making a number of antisemitic remarks, including widely criticized comments praising Adolf Hitler in an interview with far-right commentator Alex Jones.

The Korea Times reported that social media users also pointed to the release of Ye’s 2016 song Famous that included derogatory lyrics about Taylor Swift.

Ye also sparked criticism in June 2023 after pictures from his 46th 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day party were circulated online.

The photos depicted a Japanese practice called Nyotaimori, which refers to sushi or sashimi being served on a nɑƙeɗ woman’s body.

The private party was attended by Ye’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian, their daughter North West, then nine, and his second wife Bianca Censori.

“Noooooo giselle and winter went to the kanye west concert,” one fan lamented on X, expressing their disappointment over the K-pop stars’ most recent appearance.

“Me acting surprised at the fact that giselle and winter is a kanye supporter through and through…. as if i didn’t see their damn playlists,” another tweet read.

Other K-pop stars at Ye’s two-and-a-half-hour concert on Friday included Red Velvet’s Seulgi, 2NE1 members CL and Minzy, and solo singer Jeon So-mi.

Rappers Zion.T and Dean and boy band Treasure members Jihoon and Choi Hyun-suk were also present, The Korea Times reported.

Some fans defended the K-pop singers amid the backlash online.

“Maybe they just went because it was a famous singer’s concert,” one person reportedly commented.

“We should separate personal controversy from their work of art,” another person suggested. “It seems like the stars in attendance were merely invited.”

YE IN SOUTH KOREA

Ye was seen arriving at the Seoul’s Incheon International Airport ahead of his performance on August 23.

Bianca, 29, accompanied the Grammy winner and three of his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, including daughters North, 11, and Chicago West, 6, and son Psalm West, 5, who he shares with Kim Kardashian.

Bianca was seen carrying Chicago while walking alongside North and Psalm as Kanye walked ahead.

The former couple’s oldest daughter North later joined her father onstage during the Vultures listening party that was reportedly attended by over 35,000 people at the Goyang Stadium.

The show was live-streamed to Ye’s YouTube account, as fans around the world tuned in to watch the performance.

The Donda hitmaker performed 74 songs during the show, including several of his early hits like All of the Lights, Runaway, Heartless, Homecoming, and Can’t Tell Me Nothing.

Kanye West performs onstage during the Vultures 1 playback concert during Rolling Loud 2024 at Hollywood Park Grounds on March 14 in Inglewood, CaliforniaCredit: Getty

Giselle and Winter of Aespa attend Aespa’s The 1st Album ‘Armageddon’ press conference at Blue Square in Yongsan-gu on May 27 in Seoul, South KoreaCredit: Getty