Red Velvet Fans Furious With SM Entertainment For Alleged AI-Generated Comeback Teaser Images 

SM Entertainment, renowned for its influence in the K-Pop industry, has recently faced massive backlash from Red Velvet fans over its use of AI technology in the group’s latest teaser images.

Eagle-eyed fans have accused the company of using AI-generated backgrounds in the comeback teaser images for Red Velvet’s “Mysterious Hotel” and “Midnight Sun” concepts.

Fans have expressed strong disapproval of what they perceive as a lazy and impersonal approach to the group’s visual concept. The discontent began bubbling over SM Entertainment’s earlier AI-related ventures — notably RIIZE’s “Impossible” single, which featured an AI-generated visualizer, and aespa’s “Supernova” music video, where AI was used to synchronize the members’ lip movements to the song.

THIS PART IS SO UNSERIOUS??? THEY AI AESPA FACE???😭😭😭 never seen a mv like this aespa you’ll always be SPECIAL

AESPA GOES SUPERNOVA#Supernova_OutNow #aespa#aespaSupernova @aespa_official pic.twitter.com/0hcHFnQuNL

— jar is seeing aespa on 20/7ᯓᡣ𐭩 (@aesPAKed) May 13, 2024

Both instances were met with mixed reactions, but the discontent has only grown with Red Velvet’s latest teasers.

In particular, fans are upset that the AI-generated backgrounds detract from the unique and creative identity that Red Velvet is known for. While the girls themselves are as gorgeous as ever, many feel that the use of AI shows a lack of effort and a cost-cutting mentality — which has resulted in fans calling the company “lazy” and “cheap.”

This was even more amplified when fans noticed that the same AI-generated background appeared in teasers for multiple members — including Irene, Wendy, Yeri, and Seulgi — which is considered a repetitive and uninspired execution.

I've been holding this in but this shit is infuriating.

Using ai for a group that runs on creativity like Red Velvet is the biggest spit in the face sm can give.

And if you think 'it doesnt matter as long as we get music/ stop with the negativity' you have rocks for brains

— Pizza Boy 🪐 (@PzzBoy) June 17, 2024

what baffles me most about the rv and ai situation is that none of the sets required ai to be created to begin with, the first teasers were just a neighborhood and the second is just some pretty scenery with eerie vibes something rv has managed to create hundreds of times before https://t.co/Il8ouePo25

— daria🧊 (@hermessieun) June 17, 2024

red velvet dont deserve those ai generated backgrounds istg center 3 when i catch u 😭

— 김 (@soshirevelae) June 17, 2024

The reaction on social media has been swift and vocal, with fans accusing SM Entertainment of compromising Red Velvet’s artistic integrity.

Some of the AI mistakes I found in the background of the Red Velvet concept photos:
-rainbow glare that ends randomly
-car with odd bumps in the design
-letters that make no sense
-uneven fence arches pic.twitter.com/BDABePx1Nl

— M ☽ ☽ N ¹² (@cloouriibit) June 11, 2024

the annoying part of sm ai generating the rv teasers is at least for aespa they were making shit you’d have to animate/draw anyway. what is so fantastical about some suburbs that you had to ai generate it??? especially when you’ve done this before?? pic.twitter.com/466JuUcwkS

— cowboy mimi (@velvetfuture) June 11, 2024

Honestly what the hell is happening with creative direction for this red velvet comeback. This is so cheap and NOT grand for a 10 year anniversary comeback. They are literally using the exact same ai background for all teasers #SM_TRY_BETTER pic.twitter.com/Bt0viaTpBT

— Veronika (@MOONi1207) June 17, 2024

Despite the growing outcry, SM Entertainment has yet to officially address the concerns regarding the use of AI in Red Velvet’s teaser images or any of the other artists’ works. It remains to be seen if they ever will. For now, Red Velvet fans are left hoping for a return to the thoughtful and creative presentations that have characterized the group’s past promotions for almost a decade.