G-Dragon performed at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium on Nov. 29 during ‘2025 MAMA Awards’, delivering a solo set and receiving artist of the year, but the live execution sparked criticism.
The set drew on ‘Heart Break’ from his first solo LP and the hit ‘Untitled, 2014’, but it drew criticism for relying on AR backing with large sections left to the track and for live pitch that some viewers found unstable. Because recent stages had already raised questions about his live form, the ‘2025 MAMA Awards’ performance quickly became another flashpoint.
After the broadcast, the official ‘MAMA’ account posted a highlight reel. Under that clip, G-Dragon left a thumbs-down emoji and an ellipsis—an unmistakable signal that he, too, was unhappy with how the set came across. The comment circulated as evidence that he had seen the same issues fans were discussing.
Context from recent appearances fed the debate. At ‘SBS Gayo Daejeon’, his gravelly delivery, off-key ad-libs, and late entries drew pushback; at the March world-tour opener in Goyang, he at times refrained from singing and filled lines with humming. Against that backdrop, critics called the ‘MAMA’ stage another instance of uneven live control, while supporters argued he pushed through visible condition issues to finish on mic.
Separately, G-Dragon pledged about 130,000 USD (1 million HKD) to the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to aid fire-site recovery and community counseling in Hong Kong, a move supporters highlighted as consistent with his recent philanthropic activity even as scrutiny of the performance continues.
SEE ALSO: G-Dragon becomes academic subject at USC “A cultural force recognized by scholars”
SHARE
