aespa is facing major backlash over their latest music video for the remix of their single “Rich Man.” Released on September 19, 2025, the three-minute video is entirely composed of AI-generated visuals, sparking outrage among fans.
Upon its release, fans took to social media to express their disappointment. Many questioned why SM Entertainment opted for an AI-generated video, calling it an unnecessary move.
“this could’ve been a compilation of stock footage but you decided to burn the entire forests of poland for this. aespa deserves better,” tweeted one fan.
“is this deadass just a whole ai mv…not a single person asked for this,” another chimed in.
With over 1.3 million views on the announcement post but only 62,000 views on the actual video after sixteen hours, the response speaks volumes.
Fans are not holding back. Comments on the YouTube video show a similar discontent, reflecting a clear distaste for the use of AI in music videos.
Adding to the turmoil, this controversy follows aespa’s recent performance on Good Morning America, which fans felt fell short of expectations.
The situation raises an important question: Should AI-generated content be normalized in K-Pop? Fans clearly don’t think so.
