On July 3, aespa made a notable appearance on the Japanese show The Weekly 99 Music. Towards the end of the program, all the idols involved had their moment in front of the camera.
Some male idols seized this opportunity to showcase their personalities, leading to an unexpected viral moment for aespa's NingNing.
As the male idols made their way back into the crowd of artists for the final scenes, NingNing was seen subtly backing away and moving closer to her fellow aespa member, Giselle, as the male idols approached. Netizens were quick to identify the male idols in the video as members of BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE.
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The video of NingNing's reaction quickly gained traction online. The original post, captioned 'NingNing, it's so funny I can't stop laughing,' amassed over 3 million views in under 24 hours.
Fans shared a variety of reactions, ranging from humorous to sympathetic, noting the cramped stage conditions and NingNing's likely desire to avoid physical contact in a crowded space.
ningning was trying to both distance and cover herself bc they were moving back. if yall have seen the whole frame, there were a lot of artists on stage and it looked so cramped. she's afraid they might bump into her. https://t.co/gkuFOIK0uo
— juls (@jenoningz) July 3, 2024
don't worry ning ning, they're just a bunch of silly and innocence boys istg ๐คฃ#BALLISTIKBOYZpic.twitter.com/Ugl145girJ https://t.co/Wa1pBQUVfE
— โโ (@oshisareK) July 4, 2024
don't worry ning ning, they're just a bunch of silly and innocence boys istg ๐คฃ#BALLISTIKBOYZpic.twitter.com/Ugl145girJ https://t.co/Wa1pBQUVfE
— โโ (@oshisareK) July 4, 2024
"Japanese men have a strange sense of distance, poor NingNing," tweeted @sakuramochinek, echoing the sentiments of many fans who sympathized with the idol.
ใใซ็ทใใณใใณใซๅฏใใช๐ข๐ข https://t.co/4ycsw36NAi
— ๐ข๐พ๐ท ๐ช๐ท๐ญ ๐๐ธ๐ธ๐ท ๐ช๐ท๐ญ ใใ๐เฝฒเพ (@mariru856) July 3, 2024
"Don't approach the foolish man, NingNing," wrote @mariru856, adding a touch of humor to the situation.
ใใณใใณใกใใใจใขใคใใซใใฃใฆใใใใ๏ผ https://t.co/x2dISLRWNn
— ๅท็ๆไน ๅๅฎฟ ็พๅฎนๅธซ ใใคใใผใณใใขใผ (@kawbata_shinya) July 4, 2024
"As expected, NingNing [chan] is an idol," commented @kawbata_shinya, recognizing NingNing's professionalism despite the awkward moment.
ใใซใใใใ
— ใขใใใใทใงใณใปใใชใทใผ (@bakuage_QOL) July 3, 2024
ใใใใญใใณใใณ https://t.co/VskL2LlvRi
"Stupid, funny. NingNing, sorry," posted @bakuage_QOL, summarizing the lighthearted yet empathetic tone of many reactions.
Given the common assumptions and rumors that arise when female and male idols interact closely, NingNing's reaction to the male idols' proximity isn't too surprising.
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Written by Cassidy Jones.