The 2023 MAMA Awards sparked controversy due to alleged favoritism toward boy groups.

Dissatisfaction arose over perceived disparities in performance opportunities and stage time between girl groups and boy groups during the prestigious event.

Online Outcry: K-Netz Flag Gender ‘Disparities’ in Performances At 2023 MAMA Awards

Netizens took to online forums, highlighting discrepancies in both the quantity and duration of performances.

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Out of a total of 25 performances for two nights, only 9 stages featured female performers, whereas boy groups took the stage 16 times.

Additionally, while some male artists showcased multiple songs, most female performers were restricted to a single track, with notable differences in performance times.

Calls for Equality: K-pop Fans Urge Fair Treatment for Girl Groups at MAMA Awards

The frustration was palpable, as fans expressed disappointment over renowned girl groups like LE SSERAFIM and (G)I-DLE receiving minimal stage time compared to their male counterparts.

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Voices in the K-pop community emphasized the need for equal treatment for all performers regardless of gender, with many urging girl groups to reconsider participation in future MAMA Awards if the alleged bias persists.

These are some comments from netizens and fans below:

• "No shade to any bgs but how in hell does Le Sserafim (known good performers and popular af in Korea) barely get even 5 minutes of performance with ONE song????????????"
• "The ggs treated this way, two top ggs only getting the bare minimum while some rookie bgs got more is crazy to me, hopefully if they keep being treated this way, they should stop attending."
• "Said this on the kpop thread as well but the difference between girl groups and boy groups being treated by mama is awful. I wouldn't be surprised if soon no girl groups attend unless they're rookies because honestly it's embarrassing and insulting."
• "I don't get how Mnet expects top groups to attend again if they're going to mistreat girl groups when they're the same ones having the biggest hits in the year."
• "The crowd was dead, Gidle was basically doing CPR and barely any movement, everything else could get a pass but a crowd that dead made it awkward."
• "Meanwhile some bgs that are smaller than them both domestically AND internationally are getting more? Hope they skip next year just like IVE and NJ did this year."

Amidst these debates, discussions emphasized the impact of such disparities on the industry's top acts and the show's overall atmosphere, citing instances where the audience engagement appeared lackluster during certain performances.

The call for equality at MAMA Awards resonated strongly among fans, prompting a critical examination of the event's treatment of girl groups and reigniting discussions about fair representation and opportunities within the music industry.

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KpopStarz own this article.
Madison Cullen wrote this.