The highly-anticipated finale of the survival idol program "I-LAND 2" aired on July 4, revealing the debut group as izna.
However, the announcement has sparked a wave of mixed reactions and controversy among fans and netizens alike.
The name "izna" was met with initial excitement from many fans who praised its uniqueness and aesthetic appeal.
However, the positive reception quickly turned into a debate as critics pointed out striking similarities to "IZ*ONE," a popular girl group formed through the idol survival show "Produce 48".
Netizens flooded social media platforms with comments drawing comparisons between "izna" and "IZ*ONE", with sentiments ranging from nostalgia for the disbanded group to skepticism over the originality of the new name.
I find it weirder to think of this in the first place
— junie (@cosmoslonging) July 4, 2024
zhang hao's reaction to the group name:
— . (@geokonic__) July 4, 2024
"it's better than jebewon" 😭😭pic.twitter.com/NDhSj1PSA1
Furthermore, criticisms emerged regarding the perceived cultural connotations of the name "izna".
Some netizens expressed concerns that the name sounded "too Japanese," while others drew connections to Suzy's character Lee Doona from the Netflix series "Doona!", associating it with a fictional persona rather than a distinctive group identity.
Internationally, the controversy escalated when observers pointed out a potentially problematic aspect of the name "izna".
read this and thought it said edna😭😭 pic.twitter.com/BDovyL5MYK
— liz🍀 (@corkciclenation) July 4, 2024
do they realise that if you rearranged the letters, you'd get a certain totalitarian ideology? https://t.co/qHEZiafiiR
— haxen 🌉 (@haxegons) July 4, 2024
It was noted that the letters could be rearranged to form an anagram of a highly sensitive term, drawing widespread criticism and condemnation across social media platforms.
- "Close enough. Welcome back IZ*ONE."
- "IDK, but this is the best survival show group name we got in a while."
- "IZ*ONE, you will always be relevant."
- "And the razzie award for the worst K-pop group goes to..."
- "This gives me the Incredible vibes with Edna mode."
- "It's like if IZ*ONE and Hittler had a child. I'm dying. It's so funny."
you can just not rearrange them
— ninfeta nipônica (@ariesdeath_c) July 4, 2024
Tweets highlighting this issue quickly gained traction, amassing hundreds of thousands of views and prompting discussions about cultural sensitivity and responsible branding in the global entertainment industry.
Despite the controversy, supporters of "izna" remain hopeful that the group will carve out its own identity and overcome the initial backlash.
Meanwhile, the management behind "I-LAND 2" and "izna" have yet to respond publicly to the criticisms surrounding the group's name choice.
KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Cassidy Jones.
