Summary of TWICE controversies: From MV plagiarism to live performance criticism! Why do they continue to be criticized?

TWICE, the girl group that represents K-Pop. Behind their glittering success, there have been many turmoils, including criticism of their singing ability, allegations of plagiarism in their music videos, controversy over their political comments, and even a stalking incident. We'll thoroughly analyze the details of each controversy, the truth behind it, and the fan reactions!

table of contents

1. Momo's "bad singing?" suspicion sparks controversy

2. "MORE & MORE" music video plagiarism scandal

3. Sana's "Heisei → Reiwa" comment sparks outrage in Korea

4. Tzuyu's "Taiwanese flag" issue

5. Nayeon's stalker incident

6. Victoria's Secret "live singing" controversy

7. Why is TWICE prone to controversy?

8. [Q&A] The truth behind the controversy that fans were most curious about

9. Summary: TWICE evolves beyond criticism

1. Momo's "bad singing?" suspicion sparks controversy

When they won first place with "MORE & MORE," there was a moment during the encore stage when their pitch was unstable, and social media was flooded with comments such as "They lack the talent" and "Are they lip-syncing?"

In particular, there were many posts criticizing Momo for being "bad at singing," but it was later discovered that this was due to her combination of difficult dance moves and high-pitched vocals.

Contents of the findings	Fan Opinions	Responses and changes
Unstable singing	"Of course, with the intense choreography."	A stable live performance of "Alcohol-Free"
Helium Gas Pledge	"This is a joke" sparks outrage	Improving performance to restore trust

Some media outlets pointed out that this was "excessive criticism of TWICE's status." As a result, Momo's singing ability was later reevaluated.

2. "MORE & MORE" music video plagiarism scandal

The arch-shaped object that appears in the music video for "MORE & MORE" has sparked outrage on social media for its striking resemblance to a work by artist Davis McCarty.

He complained that his work had been used without his permission, and JYP countered that it was merely a reference.

Stakeholders	comment	Response results
Davis McCarty	"My design was stolen in a music video with over 15 million views"	The controversy continues even after the post was deleted
JYP Entertainment	"We are considering measures to prevent recurrence."	Announcement of verification of production system

The debate over the boundary between "reference" and "plagiarism" continues to this day, and JYP's supervision system has once again been called into question.

3. Sana's "Heisei → Reiwa" comment sparks outrage in Korea

In April 2019, Sana posted on Instagram, "The Heisei era is over and a new era is beginning."
While there was a celebratory mood in Japan, in South Korea it was misunderstood as a "political statement that ignores history" and criticism poured in.
Sana later told her fans that she felt a responsibility to their love, and regained their trust with her honest attitude.

💬Fan reactions

"It's natural for Japanese people to celebrate the era of Japan."
"She did nothing wrong."

This incident was a typical example of a misunderstanding caused by cultural differences, and symbolized the difficulties of international K-POP activities.

4. Tzuyu's "Taiwanese flag" issue

In 2016, Taiwanese actress Tzuyu caused outrage in China when she waved the Taiwanese flag on a TV show, which was deemed a "political act."
Following the backlash from China, JYP issued an apology, and Tzuyu also apologized in a video.

However, in Taiwan, the move was criticized as "giving in to China," sparking an international debate.

country	Reaction details	influence
China	"It disregarded national sovereignty."	Program deletion and activity restrictions
Taiwan	"Apologies are humiliating"	Political debate
South Korea	"It's cruel to hold a 16-year-old girl responsible."	Fan sympathy grows

This incident raised awareness of the "risks of making political statements" throughout the K-POP industry.

5. Nayeon's stalker incident

In 2019, an incident occurred in which a foreign stalker boarded a plane carrying Nayeon and attempted to contact her.
JYP announced that it was "considering legal action," but was criticized for its delayed response.

Problem	What fans are saying	Office response
Lack of security	"Private jets should be introduced."	Announcement of strengthened security
Delays in legal proceedings	"That's a lenient response."	Apply for a restraining order against the perpetrator

Since then, TWICE's travels have been more strictly controlled.

6. Victoria's Secret "live singing" controversy (2025)

In October 2025, TWICE performed at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Behind the glamorous stage, the members were criticized for having unstable singing voices and not fitting the occasion, with Tzuyu's vocals in particular attracting attention.

However, he later confessed that he had a sore throat and couldn't speak.
Fans flooded her with support, saying, "I was moved to see her take the stage even though she was feeling unwell."

Content of criticism	Tzuyu's explanation	Fan reaction
"Live singing is unstable"	"I couldn't speak because my throat was sore"	"Their professionalism is incredible"
"It doesn't suit model shows."	"The effort was apparent"	"Supportive comments spread all over the world"

As a result, the touching episode outweighed the criticism and strengthened the bonds between fans.

7. Why is TWICE prone to controversy?

TWICE is a multinational group with members from Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
The interplay of cultural values and political sentiments creates a structure in which misunderstandings are likely to occur in any country.
Additionally, dissatisfaction with JYP's management policies (costumes, health management, media relations) is also a factor fueling the controversy.

Summary of risk factors for online outrage

factor	Specific examples
multinational composition	Cultural misunderstandings by country (e.g., Sana's statement)
political sensitivity	Taiwan-China-Korea relations
Distrust in management	Dealing with stalkers and costume issues
Popularity	Even the smallest actions can be easily misinterpreted

8. [Q&A] The truth behind the controversy that fans were most curious about

Q1. Was Sana's comment really problematic?
A. No. It was just a misunderstanding on the part of Korean netizens, and there was no political intention behind it whatsoever.
She was simply expressing her natural feelings about Japanese culture.

Q2. What happened with the MV plagiarism allegations?
A. After discussing with the artist, the post was deleted. JYP has announced measures to prevent recurrence, and the incident has not developed into a legal issue.

Q3. What is the current status of Tzuyu's incident?
A. Since then, we have continued our activities in both Taiwan and China. The past controversy has calmed down.

Q4. What is the latest Victoria's Secret controversy?
A. It was due to temporary instability in performance caused by poor health. I'm now recovered and my bond with my fans has become even stronger.

9. Summary: TWICE evolves beyond criticism

A backlash can be painful, but it can also be proof that you're getting attention.
Although TWICE has faced numerous misunderstandings and criticisms in the past, they have always overcome them with sincere responses and hard work.
They will continue to evolve with the support of fans all over the world.