Giselle Uchinaga, a Japanese-Korean member of SM Entertainment’s girl group aespa, has been one of the most controversial K-pop idols since her debut in 2020. Below is a full overview of major incidents and debates surrounding her, as reported by Korean and international media.
Lip-syncing a Racial Slur
In October 2021, during behind-the-scenes footage of Savage promotions uploaded to aespa’s official YouTube channel, Giselle was caught mouthing lyrics to Love Galore (SZA & Travis Scott), which included the N-word—a racial slur directed against Black people.
A slowed-down version of the clip, showing Giselle mouthing the word at the two-second mark, circulated online and sparked immediate backlash, particularly as she is fluent in English, having studied at an international school. The video was later set to private.
On October 25, 2021, Giselle issued an apology in English via aespa’s X, stating that she did not intend to offend anyone and had “got carried away while singing along to a favorite song.” Although her response was swift, the controversy left a lasting impact on her public image.
Remarks About Suicide
In December 2021, Giselle drew criticism in South Korea for making a comment about suicide during a program, with many accusing her of insensitivity.
The issue resurfaced in August 2023 in Vogue’s 24 Hours With Aespa video. While at the Empire State Building observation deck, Giselle said: “If your phone falls, suicide is not the answer” (translated from the Korean phrase “자살은 안 돼”). In Korean, the phrase is a slang expression describing the dizzying sensation of looking down from a height. However, given the tragic history of suicides in K-pop, her remark was met with severe backlash.
Vogue was also criticized for leaving the scene unedited in the official video.
Allegations of Unfair Treatment
Fans repeatedly pointed out that Giselle often had fewer parts in songs, wore simpler stage outfits, and received less brand exposure compared to other members.
In 2022, fans launched the hashtags #TreatGiselleFairly and #GiselleDeservesBetter, urging SM Entertainment to give her equal treatment. The movement became a hot topic among international fandom communities.
Attendance at Kanye West’s Concert
In August 2024, Giselle and fellow member Winter were spotted at Kanye West’s concert in Seoul. The move stirred controversy as Kanye West has been embroiled in multiple scandals, including racist remarks and antisemitic comments.
International audiences criticized aespa for failing to consider the implications of being associated with such a figure. While some fans defended the decision as a casual music outing, others viewed it as a reckless choice, especially at a time when public sensitivity toward social issues is high.
Interaction with Rapper Convicted of Drug Use
In June 2025, Giselle faced another backlash after using rapper Sik-K’s track LOV3 as background music for an Instagram post and publicly interacting with him online. Sik-K had previously received a suspended prison sentence for illegal drug use.
Korean netizens strongly condemned the action, calling it careless for an idol to openly show support for an artist with a criminal record.
Concerning Instagram Post “낙동강 오리알”
In July 2025, Giselle uploaded a photo with the Korean idiom “낙동강 오리알,” which literally means “duck eggs on Nakdong River” and figuratively refers to someone isolated or excluded.
The post sparked speculation about her mental state and fueled debates over her relationship with other aespa members. Many fans expressed concern that she might be experiencing difficulties within the group.
