K-NETIZENS RESPOND TO CRITICISM OF K-POP FANS DISMISSING BACKUP DANCERS’ IMPACT ON IDOLS

On August 18th, a user on X (formerly known as Twitter) posted a tweet venting their annoyance towards backup dancers of idols. They stated, “Could the backup dancers please refrain from showing off? It’s quite noticeable and it really bothers me. Why do they constantly bite their lips and stick out their tongues?”

Many believed that this netizen, being a fan of aespa, tweeted after watching the new challenge video of Karina. Some aespa fans criticized the dancer on the right of Karina for making numerous facial expressions while dancing with the group member, accusing them of trying to steal the spotlight.

As soon as I saw this tweet, I thought of thisㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋright haㅜㅜ https://t.co/1fhSYsQQ06 pic.twitter.com/v0OSg5vBvh

— Summer (@ssummercuba) August 18, 2024

The tweet, originally posted on Twitter, quickly gained popularity among K-pop enthusiasts, garnering over 119 million views. Fans of other groups, such as Stray Kids and SEVENTEEN, also expressed their disappointment with instances where backup dancers seemed to steal the spotlight at idols’ concerts.

I actually went to a SKZ concert and was freaked out by this https://t.co/rxdnLcOLen pic.twitter.com/9hJyGY8Vex

— Potato (@__potato99) August 19, 2024

Korean K-pop fans have a strong belief that the role of a backup dancer is to enhance the performance of their idols, rather than overshadow them. As a result, they strive to harmonize with the idols’ dancing style and energy, in order to showcase the idols’ talents and shine on stage. However, there has been some concern that the success of “Street Woman Fighter”may have led some backup dancers to develop a sense of self-importance and begin to view themselves as superstars.

Despite the hate and criticism towards backup dancers, many individuals, particularly international K-pop fans, argued that it was unreasonable to condemn dancers for simply doing their job – which is to dance proficiently. Furthermore, if any idol was overshadowed by the dancers, it was likely due to their own lack of charm and ability to captivate the audience.

According to a viral tweet, the backup dancers of an idol group were accused of stealing the spotlight at a performance.