[talk] [2025 Latest] Are the ESPA bullying allegations and controversy true? A thorough investigation into the badmouthing of Karina and discrimination against Gisele!

We'll take a deep look at the scandals and rumors surrounding the members of aespa! We'll thoroughly investigate everything from Karina's past bad-mouthing, the allegations of mistreatment of Gisele, the truth about bullying, and the reaction in Korea.

1. aespa's controversy and Karina's bad-mouthing

Karina, a member of aespa, caused a controversy when the contents of her KakaoTalk messages from when she was a trainee were revealed. In these KakaoTalk messages, she openly expressed her dissatisfaction with the agency and other artists at the time, in particular calling EXO's Kai "weird" and "ugly." This information, which was exchanged between her and a friend, became a problem when it was leaked to the public.

However, there are doubts as to whether this KakaoTalk is genuine. A person who calls himself Karina's "best friend" claims that the contents are fabricated, so its veracity is unclear. That being said, it could be said that anyone would complain in their heart, as Karina started as a trainee at the tender age of 16 and debuted at 20. Of course, this does not justify the contents that were exposed, but it could also be seen as part of her growth process.

2. Gisele's past: drinking, smoking, drug allegations and middle finger photo

There have been several rumors surrounding Gisele's pre-debut past, particularly allegations that she was involved in drinking, smoking and drugs while underage, but no solid evidence has been found for these allegations and they are considered to be mere rumors. Additionally, a photo of Gisele giving the middle finger was leaked onto the internet, which further spread negative perceptions of her.

However, the truth about this photo is unclear, and since low-resolution images are being spread, it is not clear whether it is actually her. Furthermore, although there are cultures in which the act of giving the middle finger itself is considered "bad," it is also possible that everyone has done it as a joke at least once. In light of this, some people are of the opinion that past actions should be evaluated with caution.

3. Allegations of leaking internal information about NinNin

Aespa's Chinese member Ningning has been accused of leaking internal information about SM Entertainment to outsiders. This is a very serious matter, and if true, it would amount to the leaking of trade secrets and could result in legal action. However, there is no evidence that Ningning has sold internal information, and some say this is just a rumor.

SM Entertainment is a large global agency, and it is hard to imagine that they would tolerate such behavior, leading some to believe that these allegations are nothing more than dramatic imagination.

4. Do aespa members not get along?

AESPA is a four-person group, with members from different backgrounds: Korean, half Japanese-Korean, and Chinese. Due to their different cultural backgrounds and languages, one might think that communication would be difficult at first. However, in reality, Gisele can speak Korean at a native level, and Ning Ning can also speak Korean well enough, so the language barrier does not seem to be a problem.

In fact, the members of aespa get along very well, especially Karina and Gisele who support each other as "onnies (older sisters)," and Winter and Ningning who are also active as "dongsaengs (younger brothers)." Their personalities and individualities blend well together, and there are hardly any moments when you can sense any bad blood between them.

5. Gisele given the cold shoulder? The truth behind discrimination

There have been allegations of mistreatment and discrimination against Gisele in the past. In particular, it became a hot topic that few photos of Gisele were released compared to the other members at the SBS Song Festival in December 2020. Furthermore, after a concert in December 2020, Gisele's face was blurred, which drew criticism as being "discriminatory."

Regarding this issue, BoA defended Gisele and suggested the director change the set, and the dissatisfaction with Gisele's treatment began to subside. BoA's actions show her attitude as a senior to protect her juniors, and she has been praised by fans.

6. About the rumor that aespa is not cute

Some people say that the members of AESPA are "not pretty", but this is merely a personal opinion. In particular, Gisele's short training period before debut is likely to have had an impact. Some may feel that she lacks experience compared to the other members due to her short training period. However, Gisele has overwhelming strengths in rapping ability and language skills (Korean, English, Japanese, French). Her multi-talented talent cannot be judged solely on her appearance.

7. Korean Reactions and Online Evaluations

As aespa continues their activities, opinions about them are divided in Korea. In particular, many have questioned why they debuted such controversial members, and distrust towards their agency, SM Entertainment, is spreading. However, aespa is gradually dispelling the dark rumors with their excellent performances. Even in Korea, as time has passed since the initial controversy, it is clear that aespa's appeal is being recognized.

8. Summary: The truth about aespa and its future prospects

Since their debut, aespa has quickly garnered attention and achieved success. However, they have also been plagued by numerous scandals and rumors in the past. However, their performance as a group and the talents of each member are excellent, and they are expected to continue to grow. Where there is shadow, there is also light, and aespa will not give in to that light and will continue to shine even more in the future.

🤔What is ESPA Giselle's visual ranking among K-POP idols? (Click)

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