On December 29, 2025, SM Entertainment confirmed that Ningning, a member of the popular K-pop girl group aespa, would not be performing in Japan following a vehement online petition. The move comes am...
On December 29, 2025, SM Entertainment confirmed that Ningning, a member of the popular K-pop girl group aespa, would not be performing in Japan following a vehement online petition. The move comes amid growing tensions and demands from netizens for the entire group to boycott the tour. The Decision: Why Ningning Won't Perform The controversy began when a petition surfaced on December 15, 2025, amassing over 100,000 signatures within two weeks. The petition, which originated on a major Korean online forum, called for aespa to reconsider their Japan tour plans due to alleged cultural insensitivities highlighted by fans. While Ningning's absence is confirmed, it remains unclear if other members—Karina, Winter, and Giselle—will follow suit. Background: Aespa's Rising Popularity and Recent Releases aespa, under the management of SM Entertainment, debuted in November 2020 and quickly rose to fame with hits like 'Black Mamba' and 'Next Level'. Their latest album 'My World', released in May 2...