G-Dragon has sparked heated debate online following his controversial stage at the ‘2025 MAMA Awards,’ with criticism intensifying even after his agency released an official statement.
Right after the show, comments such as “live performance disaster” and “extreme AR dependence” filled social media. The situation escalated when G-Dragon himself left a thumbs-down emoji on the official video of his performance.
G-Dragon performed ‘DRAMA,’ ‘Heartbreaker,’ and ‘Untitled’ at the November 29 ceremony held at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium. Although he took home four awards, including Artist of the Year, reactions to his stage were sharply divided. Viewers pointed out that he missed high notes, stopped singing multiple times, and delivered choreography that “fell below expectations.”
Adding fuel to the fire, G-Dragon wordlessly reacted to the stage video posted by MAMA’s official social accounts by dropping a thumbs-down emoji. Fans quickly speculated that he was expressing dissatisfaction with his own performance, turning the comment section into a battleground of opposing opinions.
As the controversy grew, Galaxy Corporation issued a statement on December 1, explaining that G-Dragon had completely changed his stage plans after learning about the tragic Hong Kong apartment fire. The agency said he intentionally opted for a restrained performance instead of a flashy spectacle to convey comfort and solidarity. They also emphasized that he donated 1 million HKD to support recovery efforts.
Despite the explanation, reactions remain split. Critics argued, “Skill should speak for itself,” and “You can’t justify an AR-heavy stage under the excuse of delivering comfort.” Supporters countered, “Considering the situation, it makes sense,” and “It was a performance focused on message, not spectacle."
In the end, G-Dragon’s appearance at MAMA became an ironic moment, a four-time winner surrounded by an even louder controversy.
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