aespa’s Controversial “Rich Man” Pose Triggers Heated Reactions
Recently, the story behind aespa‘s “Rich Man” ending fairy pose has sparked buzz online.
the prettiest ending fairies ever pic.twitter.com/Pyp5NqvU7N
— aespa pics (@aespapic) September 6, 2025
In a behind-the-scenes video, Lee Jung explained her inspiration for the move in the choreography.
I recently did Street Woman Fighter, this is how the kids clapped, the foreign friends.
— Lee Jung
This showed her that nails are an important accessory for the stage, which inspired her to get them done. She explained how this is a celebration of “myself” which perfectly fit the song’s meaning.
I’m celebrating myself. It’s not about the money, but I’m a truly rich person.
— Lee Jung
This move originated in ballroom culture, an underground LGBTQ+ and Black subculture that began in the 19th century.
Comment
byu/usernamesBstressful from discussion
inLoveIslandUSA
Today, it is often used as a form of encouragement or praise (for example, the SWF dancers after watching a performance) or when someone points out/picks up on (“clocks”) something.
However, people criticized aespa’s choreography as Lee Jung, the lyric writers, and the group members all seem to have different interpretations of what is happening.
The person who arranged the original song, the person who changed the lyrics, the person who choreographed, the person who sang… No one understood the meaning and concept of the original song, so it ended up being ruined like this…
As a result, when the move is performed, it appears unclear as to what it represents.
For example, NingNing performs the move as if to represent money.
The many meanings and interpretations of the move have left netizens confused.
- “Sitting for 3 hours getting your nails done is supposed to be celebrating??? I really don’t get it.”
- “Showing off nails… okay…”
- “Where did it all go wrong?”
- “Who would even look at that and think that way…”
- “Failed group project.”
- “Showing off nail art, lol. It’s ridiculous, but isn’t this song actually charting high? Calling it a failed group project and saying every part is bad feels like such an exaggeration.”
- “Exactly, I don’t get how nail art equals self-care or ‘celebration’ (celebrating what, even?). That perspective just doesn’t make sense.”
- “Wow, I thought to myself that it looked like they were copying that mini clap from gay culture and turns out they really were. But including nail art on top of that went too far, lol.”
