aespa is facing controversy after missing the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their latest single, “Dirty Work.”
The track was predicted to debut at #99 and mark aespa’s first Hot 100 entry. However, the official rankings left the group off the list, sparking major backlash from fans worldwide.
MYs, aespa’s dedicated fanbase, have slammed SM Entertainment for poor promotion. Many argued the company could have done more to push the song to chart success. Some even suggested SM try a different sound for the U.S. market.
"aespa’s ‘Dirty Work’ is predicted to debut at #99 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would mark the group’s career-first Hot 100 entry."
— Talk of the Charts (@talkofthecharts) July 6, 2025
Despite little promotion, others praised aespa’s local and international chart performance.
"aespa must be so happy that they chose to fought for Dirty Work they are charting well locally and internationally even with little to no promotion from their company."
— Jazz (@mjkmwntr) July 7, 2025
Some fans noted a silver lining. They claimed that the miss might stop SM from thinking this particular style is what American fans really want.
"Tbh, one silver lining of dirty work not entering the Hot 100 is that SM won’t get the wrong idea and think this particular sound is what american MYs want to hear from aespa."
— blue (@xenogirls) July 7, 2025
This would have been a milestone for both aespa and SM, the only Big Four K-pop entertainment company without a Hot 100 hit.
International fans turned the heat on aespa and their fandom. How did the group fail to chart despite multiple remixes (including one with rapper Flo Milli) and an official English version?
"aespa is trying to climb the Billboard Hot 100 by purchasing over 100 playlists and securing a reach of 20 million."
— Aespann_jeans (@a1071364) June 27, 2025"Despite Western Collab, English song and 34455 version, Aespa yet again fails to chart on Billboard Hot 100."
— Flop Kpop (@TheFlopKpop) July 8, 2025
Others pointed out album prices were heavily lowered during tracking week to boost sales.
"aespa’s ‘Dirty Work’ officially did not debut on BILLBOARD hot 100 even lowering album prices and they couldn’t even debut on their OWN Bubbling Under Hot 100 from so much failure. Reminder: 6 versions with one more feat of a flopped American. Aespa’s career died "
— guel (@airaoty) July 7, 2025
Adding fuel to the fire, allegations surfaced that some Chinese fans spoofed their location as the U.S. using VPNs to boost streams and sales counts.
"aespa’s Chinese fans are using VPN to spoof their location as the US and bulk-buy digital copies of “Dirty Work” to push the group onto the Billboard Hot 100. We kindly ask @billboard to investigate their digital sales and prevent this kind of manipulation."
— sam (@tayrrorismo) July 3, 2025
As the Hot 100 controversy rages on, the question remains whether aespa or any SM Entertainment act can finally secure a spot on the prestigious chart.
