Aespa’s NingNing Arrives In Paris To The Relief Of Fans, But Fans Are Still Calling Out SM Entertainment For How They Handled The Situation
Fans were incredibly excited when SM Entertainment announced that aespa would attend Paris Fashion Week for the Givenchy SS23 show and hold an in-person fansign.
Global fashion icon aespa attends the Paris Fashion Week for the Givenchy SS23 show! They’ll be holding an offline fan event while in France! #aespa #æspa #에스파 #Givenchy
— aespa (@aespa_official) September 29, 2022
But fans and reporters were surprised that when aespa arrived at the airport to fly to France, only Giselle, Karina, and Winter were there.
I love this reporter. He is asking where #NingNing is and commented that she was on the list from a document he got. He is doing his job properly. pic.twitter.com/lCDyyQVBL1
— 질주리나 (@runyoojimrina) September 30, 2022
Aespa definitely seemed to miss NingNing, making sure to mention her as they greeted fans.
Winter make a "TT" handsign (like a crying emoji) meanwhile Karina and Giselle make a "N" handsign and explained it to the fansite/reporters bcs Ningning was not there. My girls🥹 pic.twitter.com/1fAyjg9Jis
— karina's 1st wife (@ujiminphoria) September 30, 2022
SM Entertainment then put out a statement for fans, explaining that there were issues with NingNing’s visa, which is why she could not fly to France with her members.
SM Ent. informed @aespa_official’s #NINGNING was unable to depart to France for Paris Fashion Week show with her group due to visa approval issues.
However, the singer clarified that the company didn’t apply for the visa in first place. #aespaxGivenchy #NingningDeservesBetter pic.twitter.com/FuIKGLsnjF
— SMTOWN UPDATES (@aerisnews) October 1, 2022
Although fans were frustrated by the issue, their outrage grew when NingNing gave fans an update of her own that seemed to indicate that SM Entertainment didn’t prepare her visa at all.
So she said "没办和没办好是两码事"， means visa not issued and visa application not prepared are totally different. So her visa is "没办" but not "没办好".
So the result is the company forget to prepare her visa application and notice that mistake the same day morning of flight
— William (@MengMengw7) September 30, 2022
Since fans believe SM Entertainment is entirely at fault, they have been understandably voicing their frustration with how such an important event was handled.
It’s heartbreaking if Ningning can’t go and this is bcs SM is careless!! This is a big opportunity for aespa and not just that, this is their first scheduled in paris! First PFW! It should be the 4 of them#SMTreatNingningBetter#WhereIsNINGNING @SMTOWNGLOBAL @aespa_official
— ♡ (semi-ia) ᴀᴍʙᴀssᴀᴅᴏʀ ᴋᴀʀɪɴᴀ (@krnphile) September 30, 2022
what makes me even more furious is that ningning had to speak up for herself while sm just sat back and gave the most vague and misleading statement to cover up their incompetency
— 昕 (@endearning) September 30, 2022
Fans are also pointing out that it feels especially unfair since fansites had explicitly come to Paris to see NingNing, and fans attending the fan signing still don’t know if they would see the idol.
Ningning's fansites are waiting for her in Paris this is the most heartbreaking moment in 2022 ig 💔
— ً (@winteraphy) October 1, 2022
so sm fucked ningning over completely. she’s not going to make it to paris in time for fashion week and probably not the fansign either. i despise this company so much. they have done every single thing wrong this year. how could you ruin this for ningning and the fans??? https://t.co/vbKXPMPk6b
— 泡芙 puff 🌐 ₊˚⊹ ❥ (@synkdyve) September 30, 2022
Understandably fans were demanding updates from SM Entertainment about the status of NingNing’s visa, wondering if the idol would be able to come to Paris at all.
The Paris Fashion Week for Givenchy will happen tomorrow and we still have no UPDATES regarding #NINGNING.@SMTOWNGLOBAL we are once again asking you to manage your ARTISTS PROPERLY!
UPDATE US SM#SMTreatNingningBetter#WhereIsNINGNING @SMTOWNGLOBAL@aespa_official pic.twitter.com/1b7THMtmQw
— MY UNION 🫡〖Girls〗(slow) (@aespaMYunion) October 1, 2022
WE DEMAND AN UPDATE#SMTreatNingningBetter #WhereIsNINGNING pic.twitter.com/S6HfVwxulQ
— ningning international 🦋 (@nyzteam) October 1, 2022
Fans were especially frustrated with the situation since they believe that SM Entertainment has mistreated NingNing in the past by not releasing important updates and statements.
SM is nothing but awful to aespa but ningning’s treatment is so blatantly and inexcusably bad. that company did nothing but sit back and watch as knets attacked her harshly for the longest time, and now there’s this issue with her visa, she deserves better than this
— ◡̈ (@nyeongrina) September 30, 2022
However, despite the lack of updates from SM Entertainment, NingNing made it to Paris, surprising fans with her sudden appearance.
NINGNING IS HEREEEEE OMG YESSSSS SHES SO PRETTY pic.twitter.com/RP6q3uUBOY
— antho (@jadesIibra) October 1, 2022
Ningning in Paris 🤪 @aespa_official pic.twitter.com/aeNPc91RPh
— Matilda (@AdoreAsLouis) October 1, 2022
Fans are relieved that the idol could make it in time for Paris Fashion Week and the fansign.
i let out the biggest sigh of relief when i read “NINGNING IS IN PARIS” 🥲
— ًً (@thatshotg) October 1, 2022
NINGNING IN PARIS!!!! SHE’S THERE OMG THANK GOD AESPA IS COMPLETE😭😭✊🏻✊🏻
— ًً (@thatshotg) October 1, 2022
And fans are, as always, in awe of her stunning fashion and visuals, proving exactly why she belongs at Paris Fashion Week.
THE main event https://t.co/QORqyXlAbN
— patient 624 (@bareigi) October 1, 2022
SHE LOOKS SO GOOD https://t.co/RNn2bUDeEk
— cris 🍥 (@luvatiney) October 1, 2022
However, even though NingNing was able to arrive in time, fans are still frustrated with how SM Entertainment handled the situation and are demanding better treatment of aespa and NingNing in the future.
Please resolve the artist's visa issue as soon as possible, plan the artist's work rationally, provide work resources and treat NINGNING fairly.@SMTOWNGLOBAL @SMTOWN_USA @aespa_official nmsl😅 https://t.co/a6OsQZJxVr
— 我跟你拼了 (@edward96977444) October 1, 2022
she looks upset i hope this wont repeat again in the future:( https://t.co/BD3HIHCYAa
— maingo (@squishybunny8) October 1, 2022
YOU SEE THAT FACIAL EXPRESSION?! QUEEN IS STILL MAD AND I ONE HUNDRED PERCENT DO NOT BLAME HER!! @SMTOWNGLOBAL WE WILL NEVER FUCKING FORGET https://t.co/qPLGAebOLb
— ryn isolating era again (@aerifilms) October 1, 2022
