On August 5, 2025, the MTV VMAs launched their record of nominations for this yr’s ceremony. The occasion is about to air stay on September 7 from the UBS Enviornment in Elmont, New York. What began as a celebration quickly become a wave of criticism amongst Okay-pop followers. They expressed disappointment and confusion over the nominations beneath the “Greatest Okay-Pop” class.
A big level of controversy surrounded the inclusion of BLACKPINK’s Lisa’s observe, Born Once more. It’s a completely English-language collaboration with American and British artists Doja Cat and Raye. Followers argued that the track doesn’t align with the Okay-pop style and does not embody any Korean lyrics. Many felt it might have been extra becoming beneath “Greatest Pop” or “Greatest Collaboration.” Nonetheless, it was positioned beneath the Okay-pop label.
The choice sparked outrage on-line, with followers calling it disrespectful and tone-deaf to the style’s roots and objective.
Followers took to social media to query why Okay-pop idols are nonetheless confined to a single class, even when their work transcends different world genres. An X person, @chocomilk4lisa, wrote:
“that is truly disrepectful and racist.”
One other main disappointment got here from the absence of BTS members j-hope and Jin. Regardless of robust solo releases and notable chart efficiency, neither artist obtained a single nomination. Jin’s Do not Say You Love Me, Working Wild, and j-hope’s trilogy of singles Killin’ It Lady, Mona Lisa, and Candy Desires have been among the many fan-favorite tracks that many anticipated to see on the record.
Followers believed that each artists had constantly robust gross sales, streaming figures, and world influence, making their exclusion obscure. They took to social media demanding extra transparency in how nominations are chosen.
“They wish to cage lisa in that k-pop catagory so dangerous. In what world Born once more is a k-pop track, when track is in english and the artists are from Uk, Us and Thailand. @vmas get f*ck*ng over with that bullsh*t,” a fan remarked.
“BORN AGAIN, a track by a THAI lady that includes AMERICAN and BRITISH ladies, with ENGLISH lyrics being nominated beneath KPOP class is stupidity @vmas. It deserves Greatest POP and Collaboration nominations. That is like giving free go to haters to hate on #LISA if ever she wins #VMAS,” an X person wrote.
“Jin operating wild, Do not say you like me? JHOPE Mona Lisa & KIG? VMA is a joke,” a netizen remarked.
“@MTV @vmas Genuinely questioning how Jin and Jhope did not get nominated for ‘Greatest Okay-Pop’ once they have been the highest-charting Okay-pop soloist on Billboard this yr, and their current singles went viral throughout each main platform,” one other fan commented.
There have been additionally frustrations from followers of different artists, similar to LE SSERAFIM and even BLACKPINK’s Jennie, whose viral choreography wasn’t acknowledged in dance-specific classes.
“humorous to me how the vmas conveniently did not contemplate the truth that like jennie is the largest track launched by a feminine artist this yr with a viral choreo and simply dumped it into the kpop class to maneuver on, been bizarre as f*ck, racism nonetheless exists, however oh effectively,” an X person wrote.
“They did identical with le sserafim loopy despite the fact that it was largest hit vma began payola,” one other one mentioned.
“I’m disgusted @vmas !!! That is downright humiliating and disrespectful. Not a single factor concerning the video or the track is Okay pop !!! #LISA ought to have been nominated for Greatest Collaboration with both #BornAgain or #NewWoman and finest kpop with #FUTW !!!,” an X person added.
All Okay-pop nominations on the 2025 MTV VMAs and Rosé’s large wins dominate the Okay-scene
The whole record of Greatest Okay-pop nominees for the 2025 MTV VMAs consists of:
- aespa – Whiplash
- Jennie – Like Jennie
- Jimin – Who
- Jisoo – Earthquake
- Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye – Born Once more
- Stray Youngsters – Chk Chk Increase
- Rosé – Poisonous Until the Finish
Rosé’s observe APT. That includes Bruno Mars stood out as a uncommon Okay-pop crossover that was acknowledged past the Okay-pop class. The track obtained a number of nominations generally classes, highlighting her rising presence within the world music scene.
- Different Okay-pop nominations generally classes: Video of the Yr, Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT.
- Track of the Yr Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT
- PUSH Efficiency of the Yr KATSEYE – Contact
- Greatest Collaboration Rosé & Bruno Mars –APT
- Greatest Pop Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT
- Greatest Route Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT. (Directed by Bruno Mars & Daniel Ramos)
- Greatest Artwork Route Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT. (Artwork Route by Elizabet Puksto)
- Greatest Visible Results Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT. (Visible Results by Maksymilian Rafal Ojster)
All 4 members of BLACKPINK secured particular person nominations. This makes them the one Okay-pop group with full solo illustration at this yr’s VMAs.
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Edited by Maithreyi S
