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Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
aespa's Karina under fire in South Korea — SM Entertainment, fans blamed for dragging HYBE artists into controversy
Karina from the K-pop girl group aespa has been caught in a social media storm after an Instagram post unintentionally sparked political controversy in South Korea. The singer uploaded photos of herself wearing a red and black jacket with the number "2" and captioned it with a single rose emoji. While fans overseas found the post harmless, many Korean netizens quickly linked it to Kim Moon Soo, a presidential candidate associated with the ruling People Power Party. Red is the party's color, and "2" is Kim's assigned candidate number. Swift backlash and late apology The post was taken down within hours, but not before it drew sharp criticism. Karina was accused of subtly endorsing a political figure—something K-pop idols typically avoid due to their widespread influence over young fans. The backlash prompted SM Entertainment to release a statement clarifying that the post had "no political intent." Karina also issued a personal apology through the paid fan app Bubble, stating she never meant to offend anyone. Follower drop sparks more debate In the aftermath, Karina's Instagram followers dropped from 24 million to 23.8 million—a loss of about 200,000. Some attributed the dip to the controversy, while others pointed out that Instagram had recently purged inactive or bot accounts, a trend that affected many other celebrity profiles as well. Several fans noted that the follower count had begun to drop days before the post went live. Damage control: SM Entertainment's media play and fan response As the backlash intensified, some fans began speculating that SM Entertainment was engaging in "media play" to deflect attention. Older, unrelated news involving HYBE, its artists, and HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk began circulating on Korean media platforms—despite offering no substantial updates. Fans noted the suspicious timing, suggesting these articles were resurfaced deliberately to shift focus away from Karina. huh?? 😲 the minute sm's golden girl's in hot water, suddenly chaewon's pic is front and center in an article that's not even about her. and they're digging up stuff that's been public for ages. like be serious. do they think we're that dumb to not know this is contrived The Financial Supervisory Service has stated that recent reports alleging fraudulent transactions by Bang Si-Hyuk are unfounded and confirmed that no such investigation is Meanwhile, aespa's fans—known as MYs—rallied on X (formerly Twitter), launching a campaign highlighting other idols who have also used the peace sign, arguing that similar gestures had gone uncriticized. Karina posting in support of a conservative party in korea and the members of the party showing support to aespa in return. Ntm aespa fans sold out the jacket. Karina and her fans both dumb and stupid as fuck However, fans of HYBE artists responded strongly, accusing MYs of spreading "false equivalencies." They insisted Karina's apology should have been posted on Instagram—where the controversy originated—rather than on Bubble, a paid fan communication app. Some users also noted that Karina's statement regarding her dating news was more extensive than her current apology, further fueling dissatisfaction. Bye she wrote better apology for dating then for showing she support far-right wing 💀I know what you are Karina Despite diverging opinions, one thing is clear: the incident has opened up wider conversations about idol accountability, fan behavior, and the complicated intersection of pop culture and politics in South Korea. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
aespa's Karina apologizes after photo sparks political speculation
Karina, a member of the K-pop group aespa, apologized Wednesday after posting, and quickly deleting, an Instagram photo that showed her in a red and black jacket with the number 2 on it the day before. Some online commenters claimed the image appeared to signal support for Kim Moon-soo, the conservative People Power Party's presidential contender, whose campaign uses red and the ballot number 2. 'I'm truly sorry for making My (aespa's fandom) worry,' the singer wrote on the subscription platform Bubble after removing the image. 'I had absolutely no political intent.' SM Entertainment, the agency that manages aespa, echoed her message in a statement on Wednesday, calling the photo 'everyday content' that was deleted 'immediately after we recognized it could be misunderstood.' The apology came after commenters began referring to the singer as 'No. 2 voter Karina' and 'conservative Karina.' Some speculated that she had posted the photo in protest after a person believed to be the son of Representative Lee Jae-myung, the liberal Democratic Party's presidential candidate, was accused of making sexually harassing remarks about her online. Others defended Karina, arguing she was an innocent victim of South Korea's strict celebrity culture, where entertainers are expected to avoid anything that could be seen as political, including party colors, numbers, or even seemingly harmless hand gestures during election season.
New York Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Josh Hart has bigger Knicks goals that transcend the starting lineup
INDIANAPOLIS — Go ahead, try to think back to the 2022 Finals — just three years ago — and tell me who started the clincher for the winning Warriors. You obviously know Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. Maybe you recalled Andrew Wiggins. But that fifth starter? It was Otto Porter Jr., who is now retired at 31 years old. Or, let's go back to the most consequential contest in NBA history — Game 7, 2016 Finals — and tell me if you genuinely remembered that Festus Ezeli and Tristan Thompson matched up at tipoff. Or how about five years ago with the Lakers in the Bubble, when Alex Caruso and Danny Green lined up with LeBron James. Are their starts etched and memorialized in NBA history? Hardly.
Cosmopolitan
5 days ago
- Business
- Cosmopolitan
Bubble Review 2025: Best Products From the Viral Skincare Brand
With over 52.5 million posts on the TikTok hashtag #BubbleSkincare alone, it's safe to say that Bubble has gone (and continues to go) viral on social media. Leaning into Gen Alpha and Gen Z aesthetics with brightly-colored packaging, social media-fronted campaigns, and expertly curated formulations that address the cohort's concerns, such as acne and oily skin, Bubble Skincare has given the industry a lesson in skincare marketing. I mean, the numbers speak for themselves! I spoke with Shai Eisenman, founder and CEO of Bubble to learn more about the brand's origins, who the products are best for, and of course, the top Bubble products to shop right now. Speaking as a consumer, Shai says that she noticed a gap in the market while shopping; this piqued her interest in creating her very own skincare brand. "I was immersed in the world of beauty as a consumer shopping in local pharmacies and drugstores. It was there when I saw how little innovation had taken place at the $20 and under price point and wanted to be able to bring that innovation to a wider consumer audience," Shai explains. "When beginning to develop Bubble, I found the top experts in the skincare field to help me formulate the best products on the market. I am proud to say that we have an all-female in-house product development team behind our products and work with consulting dermatologists," she adds. Since its launch, Bubble has adjusted to the wider consumer market after originally targeting teens. "At launch, Bubble was for teens needing gentle yet effective solutions, but today we are for everyone—our gentle ingredients and prestige-level formulations work across skin of all ages and stages," says Shai. She adds that the brand's all-female team of in-house chemists works hard to create formulations for all skin types. "Generally, our range is great for those with sensitive skin, as all our products are free from fragrance and irritating ingredients," Shai all this new knowledge of the brand, I had no choice but to see what all the hype is about with a month of skincare trialing. From the most hyped Slam Dunk Hydrating Moisturizer Créme to the best-selling Fresh Start Gel Cleanser, I tested every Bubble product out there to curate a 'best of' list. So, keep reading to find out which made the cut...
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
One challenge after another, but ITE student still finds ways to shine
After escaping a childhood of abuse, Ms Azaleagrace Teo has made an impact in and out of school. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM More than Grades One challenge after another, but ITE student still finds ways to shine Behind every academic result is a young person quietly chasing their dreams, beating the odds, and hoping to make something of themselves. In More than Grades, a monthly series by The Straits Times, we tell the stories of youth who are making waves in school and beyond. SINGAPORE – When she was 15, Ms Azaleagrace Teo made the brave decision to confide in a counsellor at her secondary school after suffering almost seven years of abuse from her father. Within two weeks, she was uprooted from her home, and was subsequently, over the years, moved at least eight times across different care facilities. These included stays at foster homes, an interim placement and assessment centre, the Institute of Mental Health and the HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre, a therapeutic group home. Grappling with ending ties with her family and being relocated so many times took a toll on the young girl's studies. She repeated her Secondary 4 year at Deyi Secondary School, delaying her graduation. She eventually enrolled at ITE College East in 2021, and found out she had to support herself financially when she was moved to a student hostel in Evans Road. Though only 18 at the time, she had to start paying rent and being self-sufficient. While still studying, Ms Teo joined a web solutions start-up, where she learnt about web development to create web and mobile apps from scratch, using a no-code platform called Bubble. 'In my first year, I was earning only $500 a month and heavily dependent on short-term sources of financial support to scrape by for rent and food,' she said. Adjusting to her new reality of having to fend for herself, Ms Teo did not take part in any school activities, and spent her free time working and honing her skills in web development. Ms Azaleagrace Teo at the HCSA Dayspring centre in 2018, a residential treatment centre for girls. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AZALEAGRACE TEO Choosing the harder path for her future After completing her Nitec course in urban greenery and landscape, she was faced with a tough decision. She had to choose between a work-study diploma, where she could earn a decent salary while studying, or sign up for a Higher Nitec course in interactive design at ITE College Central, where her passion lay. But this would mean juggling work and studies for another two years. She chose the latter. Calling it a decision made in turmoil, Ms Teo said she had to choose what would be better for her 30 or 40 years down the road. While there are those who may be able to make mid-career switches, she doubted if she would have the financial resources to do so. 'That's why I ultimately decided to go down the much harder path, doing what I love, instead of choosing something that was a much easier fix at the time,' she said. Ms Teo went on to ace her studies, graduating from the Institute of Technical Education in 2025 with a perfect grade point average of 4. On May 22, she was also one of 10 recipients of the Lee Kuan Yew Model Student Award, given to students who have performed consistently well, and displayed 'outstanding conduct and attitude worthy of emulation by their peers'. Ms Azaleagrace Teo was one of 10 recipients of the Lee Kuan Yew Model Student Award on May 22. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Ms Teo said that because of the support and care she received from her peers and teachers at ITE College Central, she was encouraged to do more than get through the daily grind of school, despite her challenging circumstances. Ms Teo, who has an older sister, has not been in touch with her mother since she was 12. 'I realised that I actually do have something that I want to work towards, and I had the capacity and the ability to do more than just the day to day,' she said. Using her leadership skills, Ms Teo, as vice-president of ITE College Central's yoga club, managed yoga sessions, team-building events and co-curricular activity roadshows. She represented the ITE at the M1 Asia Pacific Golf 2024 fund-raising event, where she and a schoolmate shared their personal stories of financial hardship and helped to raise $308,000 for the ITE Education Fund. She also co-organised a roadshow which brought together more than 200 students to promote racial harmony and led publicity efforts for the 2024 ITE Student Leaders Forum. Today, she still volunteers with Owena, the alumni association of her former therapeutic group home at HCSA Dayspring, where she serves as secretary and helps organise events to support trauma survivors. Ms Teo speaking at an event in July 2024 to thank donors who supported the ITE Education Fund. PHOTO: ITE Mr Kevin Chin, manager of the interactive design course at ITE College Central, said that despite coming from a challenging background, Ms Teo never allowed that to define her potential. 'In moments where she could have just given up or played her pity card, she didn't. She showed grit,' he said, adding that Ms Teo's academic performance was consistent across various subjects and disciplines. 'She was a student in the School of Design and Media. 'But she also took business modules, and she excelled in those as well,' he added. Now a first-year student pursuing a diploma in media, arts and design at Singapore Polytechnic, Ms Teo is keen to continue her work supporting fellow trauma survivors, while working and studying. Reflecting on her own experience and struggles, she said that her wounds will never completely heal, but she has learnt to cope by taking things one day at a time. She hopes to pass on this lesson to others. 'Where you've come from does not determine where you will go,' she said. 'There is light at the end of the tunnel, but when it's so dark, it's very difficult to know when you will reach there... but ultimately we'll reach where we are meant to be.' Elisha Tushara is a correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in Singapore's education landscape. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
