As one of the most intriguing members of aespa, Giselle isn’t just known for her rapping skills—she also has an impressive record of controversies. If aespa were to have a “drama magnet” title, Giselle would be a top contender. Lip-syncing sensitive words? Check. Controversial remarks? Got those too. Attending a Kanye West event? Add that to the list. So, are these just a series of unfortunate incidents, or is there a pattern that needs to change?
1. Giselle’s Lip-Syncing Scandal with a Racial Slur
❓ What exactly happened in the Giselle aespa N-word scandal?
In October 2021, during aespa’s Savage promotions, Giselle found herself at the center of a major debate. According to SCMP, in a behind-the-scenes video, she was seen lip-syncing along to Love Galore by SZA and Travis Scott. That alone wouldn’t have been an issue—except for the fact that she mouthed the N-word, a term with deep racial connotations.
Within moments, backlash erupted across social media. International fans expressed disappointment, arguing that a K-pop idol operating on a global stage should be more mindful of language.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, on October 25, 2021, Giselle issued an apology via aespa’s official Twitter:
“I would like to apologize for mouthing the wrongful word from the lyrics of the song that was playing on-site. I had no intentions of doing it with any purpose and got carried away when one of my favorite artist’s song was played. I sincerely apologize.”
Although the response came quickly, some fans remained skeptical:
💬 “Has she seriously never heard about this issue before?”
Lesson learned: Sometimes, even a single lip-synced word can shake a career.
This moment became one of the most talked-about incidents in K-pop, solidifying the Giselle aespa N-word scandal as a cautionary tale about the power of words—even when they aren’t actually spoken aloud.
2. Giselle’s “Suicide” Comment Controversy
❓ Why did Giselle’s comment in Vogue’s video spark outrage?
In August 2023, Giselle once again became the subject of controversy. According to Namu Wiki, in Vogue’s 24 Hours with aespa video, the group visited the Empire State Building’s observation deck. While looking down, Giselle casually said:
“If your phone falls, suicide is not the answer.”
The phrase (자살은 안 돼) is a common Korean slang expression, often used to describe dizziness when standing at great heights. However, given the K-pop industry’s tragic history with suicides, the comment was immediately labeled as insensitive.
What made things worse was that Vogue didn’t edit out this part, prompting netizens to ask:
💬 “Did no one in the editing team think this could be problematic?”
Some even sarcastically commented:
😂 “Maybe the editor thought it was some deep life philosophy and left it in?”
Regardless of intent, this incident added yet another wave of criticism to Giselle’s name. The Giselle aespa Vogue scandal once again highlighted the fine line between casual remarks and words that can trigger backlash, especially in an industry as scrutinized as K-pop.
3. Attending Kanye West’s Concert: A PR Disaster?
❓ Did Giselle and Winter actually support Kanye West, or were they just music fans?
If you thought the Giselle aespa controversy scandal list ended there—think again. In September 2023, she and Winter faced backlash after being spotted at Kanye West’s concert in South Korea. A simple night out for music turned into a major PR misstep.
Why? While Kanye West is undoubtedly a musical genius, he’s also a magnet for controversy. His past antisemitic remarks (as reported by The Sun) led to widespread boycotts. So, when Giselle and Winter attended his concert, some international fans were quick to criticize their decision.
Supporters argued they were merely enjoying his music and not endorsing his views. But given how sensitive the entertainment industry is today, the real question was:
💬 “Did they not anticipate the backlash?”
Whatever Giselle’s reasoning was, one thing became clear: In the digital age, simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be enough to spark an online firestorm. The Giselle aespa Kanye West scandal was yet another reminder that every public move a celebrity makes can—and will—be scrutinized.
4. Giselle: A Bold Personality or a Liability?
❓ Is Giselle the most controversy-prone aespa member?
Is Giselle truly a “drama magnet,” or just unlucky? It depends on how you look at it, but repeated controversies are rarely a good sign.
Some believe she’s just carefree and unaware, while others question:
💬 “Is this a personality trait that won’t change?”
Although she has either apologized or remained silent after each incident, the real concern is whether fans will continue to forgive her if mistakes keep happening.
🔥 Can Giselle turn things around, or is another Giselle aespa scandal just around the corner?
Only time will tell.
