(G)I-DLE’s leader Soyeon made headlines with a daring rap at the '2024 MAMA Awards', where she directly referenced former member Soojin and addressed controversies surrounding the group.

On November 23, the '2024 MAMA Awards Japan' took place at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan.

During the show, (G)I-DLE delivered powerful performances of Super Lady and I Hate Being Sick. However, it was Soyeon’s solo rap intro that stole the spotlight.

In her rap, Soyeon fearlessly called out critics with sharp lines like:

"Such concerns are useless. Anyway, pretending like that won’t fool my real fans, that’s a fact. Creative criticism? Passion for pointing fingers? But if it comes from insiders, my face turns red with fury."

What really left fans and viewers stunned were her lines referencing past challenges and doubts about the group’s success after Soojin’s departure:

"You said that in 2021, didn’t you? 'What can you do without Soojin?'”

She also hinted at ongoing issues with Cube Entertainment, saying:

"Whether it's contract renewals or the company, they’ll figure it out on their own.”
"If I let that kind of stuff affect me, I wouldn’t have made it this far."

Soojin left (G)I-DLE in 2021 amid school bullying allegations, a topic that still sparks discussion among fans. By bringing it up at a high-profile event like MAMA, Soyeon stirred both admiration and controversy.

This isn’t the first time Soyeon has boldly addressed sensitive topics. Earlier this month, during (G)I-DLE’s 2024 WORLD TOUR 'iDOL' IN SEOUL, she performed Is this bad b number? with freestyle lines referencing the group's contract situation:

"Why should I give a damn about expectations? Contracts end in November. Who’s gonna stop me?"

The phrase “November contract expiration” even appeared on the concert screen, creating buzz among fans.

Cube Entertainment initially responded by saying, “Soyeon’s reference to the November contract expiration was not discussed with the company in advance, and the lyrics were not shared prior to the performance.”

However, Soyeon clarified her stance, stating, “Even this performance didn’t contain any lies, nor did I hide anything from the company. We rehearsed it together multiple times."

Afterward, Cube revised its position, adding, “We were aware of the lyrics and stage concept for *Is this bad b number?* beforehand. The mentioned date aligns with the contract expiration period, and discussions regarding renewal are progressing amicably.”

Soyeon’s boldness has sparked mixed reactions from fans, with many praising her fearless leadership and others questioning her approach. What’s clear is that Soyeon continues to make waves in the K-pop industry.

Source: [1]

When the Stars Gossip is facing a tough battle as its ratings continue to decline, leaving many to wonder if it can recover.

Despite its massive 500 billion KRW budget and a year-long production process, the drama’s viewership has been steadily dropping since its premiere.

The first two episodes of the show had relatively modest ratings, with 3.3% for episode one and 3.9% for episode two.

However, the third episode, which aired on January 11th, saw a sharp drop to just 2.2%, according to Nielsen Korea.

At this rate, the drama is on the verge of falling below 1% in viewership, which would be a serious blow for the production.

The drama’s star-studded cast, featuring Gong Hyo Jin and Lee Min Ho, hasn’t been enough to stop the slide in ratings.

As the show tries to maintain its momentum, the question remains: Can When the Stars Gossip bounce back, or will its viewership continue to sink?

With such a big budget and high expectations, viewers are still holding out hope for a recovery, but the drama’s future is uncertain unless ratings start climbing.

Source: [1]