Following Melon Music Awards (MMA) 2023, Starship Entertainment drew criticism after seeing Jang Wonyoung's extravagant outfit compared to her co-members.
Starship Accused of Showing Favoritism to IVe Jang Wonyoung
The annual Melon Music Awards, hereinafter MMA 2023, was held on Dec. 2 at the INSPIRE Arena, Yeongjongdo, Incheon.
On this day, the venue was filled with top-tier idols from second-gen to fifth-gen groups, including SHINee, NCT Dream, NewJeans, IVE, aespa, RIIZE, KISS OF LIFE, ZEROBASEONE, BOYNEXDOOR, and STAYC.
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Prior to the main awards ceremony, the lineup graced the event's red carpet, showing off top visuals in their black and white-themed 'fits.
At the time, IVE, popular for being a visual group, drew massive attention for their tall, model-like physiques on top of their goddess-like beauty in white dresses.
While all members' visuals received rave reviews, netizens couldn't help but speculate that Starship Entertainment was playing favorites again after Jang Wonyoung showed up with fancier clothing in a slightly different shade of white.
Indeed, Jang Wonyoung is the top visual idol in the fourth-gen K-pop era; thus, it is impossible for her not to stand out better. Looking at her appearance, she embodied class and elegance like royalty.
However, fans questioned the label's need to make her wear an outfit that would make her stand out most while the other members wear plain white 'fits like Rei.
Due to the idol's attention-grabbing style, K-pop enthusiasts labeled IVE as "Jang Wonyoung & Friends," as the spotlight was often given to her while the rest played the role of "accessories" that would make her stand out best.
On social media platforms like TikTok, international fans left comments such as:
- "Why is Wonyoung always overdressed like..."
- "Wonyoung and friends again."
- "Honestly, why is she dressing differently? It looks okay if she's alone, but she definitely outdid the other members when they should be uniform as a group."
- "As always, Wonyoung is getting the prettiest dress."
- "Is it Wonyoung and her backup dancers?"
- "Why give her the prettiest dress? On top of that, it's a different color?"
- "What explanation will they give this time? She's not even the MC."
This is not the first time that Starship was accused of favoring Wonyoung among IVE members.
Last, year, she also garnered raised brows after she wore an elegant gown on the KBS Gayo Daechukje 2022 red carpet, while the other members wore basic and simple 'fit. At the time, DIVEs insisted that it was because she was the MC of the event.
DIVEs Defend Jang Wonyoung After Idol Suffered Criticism Due to Her MMA's Outfit
Amid the criticism, DIVEs, IVE's fandom jumped to Wonyoung's defense after she received malicious and hateful comments for her MMA dress.
According to her fans, the star shouldn't be the center of criticism but Starship and IVE's stylist who decided the outfits of the members.
Since Jang Wonyoung is the ambassador of the luxury brand Miu Miu, it is an unwritten rule that she will wear a dress from the brand. Fans implied that the rest of the members' clothes were then chosen by the stylist, so the blame should fall on them, not on the idol.
Fans also refuted that only she got fancy clothes since An Yujin and IVE Leeseo were also wearing glamorous long gowns.
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Written by Eunice Dawson.
