SM Entertainment has once again come under fire from fans, this time over its handling of aespa’s newly unveiled lightstick, the aespa OFFICIAL FANLIGHT ver.2. While the announcement was expected to generate excitement ahead of the group’s Seoul concerts, it instead sparked frustration and ultimately, backlash, toward the company.
The situation escalated after aespa’s leader, Karina, issued an emotional apology on behalf of the company, drawing further criticism for what many fans see as SM’s repeated pattern of placing blame on artists rather than taking responsibility.
A Disappointing Launch: New Design, New Problems
The controversy began when SM Entertainment released details about the aespa OFFICIAL FANLIGHT ver. 2. Although branded as a “Version 2,” the product featured a completely overhauled design rather than an upgrade from the previous model. This caught fans off guard and led to mixed reactions, with many questioning why the earlier design was abandoned altogether.
However, the greater issue stemmed from the company’s sales strategy. SM announced that the new lightstick would only be available for purchase on-site at aespa’s upcoming Seoul concerts scheduled for August 29, 30, and 31, 2025. No online pre-orders were made available before the concerts, meaning fans would need to queue in the late-summer heat if they wanted to secure one.
The official sales notice posted by SM read:
aespa OFFICIAL FANLIGHT ver.2 SALES NOTICE
Sales Dates & Times:
On-site Booth: August 29–31 (FRI–SUN)
- 2025.08.29 (FRI) 14:00–19:00 KST
- 2025.08.30 (SAT) 12:00–17:00 KST
- 2025.08.31 (SUN) 11:00–16:00 KST
Online Orders Begin:
- 2025.09.05 (FRI) 15:00 KST
Available At: SMTOWN &STORE, Weverse Shop, SM True Store, SMTOWN GLOBAL SHOP, JAPAN SMTOWN OFFICIAL ONLINE STORE, avex taiwan e-shop, QQ MUSIC, KUGOU MUSIC
The timing of the online release, September 5, nearly a week after the concert dates, left fans no option but to endure outdoor queues if they wanted to have the lightstick for the live shows.
Karina’s Apology Fuels Backlash
In an unexpected turn, Karina personally addressed the situation via Bubble, apologizing to fans and revealing that she had requested online availability in advance. According to her, she had urged the company to allow pre-orders even before the lightstick’s official reveal, but was told production issues prevented that from happening.
“I’m also really, really upset about the lightsticks only being sold on-site… I begged them to release them online first, even before they were revealed, but apparently, there was some issue during production, so they couldn’t meet the deadline,” Karina wrote.
“They say they’ll try to increase the number of booths as much as possible, but in this heatㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ.”
“I’m so, so sorry. I wanted to make sure you could enjoy the concert happily…”
Although her message was heartfelt, many fans were angered by what they saw as SM Entertainment once again using Karina as a shield to absorb backlash that should have been directed at the company.
One fan, @bluuist on X, stated:
“SM always uses Karina as the shield and damage control. F*** them.”
Another user, @jiminiesneck, expressed their frustration:
“It kills me to know Karina feels bad about the lightstick sale 😞… It sucks that she has to come and apologize to fans for SM’s incompetence… They deserve better from that f***ass company.”
Fan @rinaszen also weighed in:
“Karina has been asking for an improvement to the lightstick for over a year… and SM has the audacity not to have it ready and send their artist to apologize. So unprofessional.”
The Bigger Picture
The incident has sparked wider criticism regarding SM’s treatment of its artists, with many pointing to a pattern of the company deflecting blame onto idols during controversies. Some noted this isn’t the first time Karina has had to apologize for management’s shortcomings.
Despite Karina’s efforts to comfort fans, the SM Entertainment apology has done little to ease tensions. If anything, the company’s poor planning and lack of transparency have only amplified dissatisfaction among MYs, aespa’s fandom.
As the concert dates approach, fans continue to demand accountability, not from the idols they support, but from the executives behind the scenes. The aespa OFFICIAL FANLIGHT debacle serves as a reminder of the growing disconnect between K-pop agencies and their fanbases, and the importance of respecting both artists and the communities that support them.
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