aespa’s Karina Allegedly Touched By Staff “In Sensitive Area,” Viral Video Sparks Outrage
A recent video of aespa’s Karina during her trip to Shanghai has fans calling out SM Entertainment for failing to protect her properly. The clip shows a security staff member physically handling the idol in a way many believe crossed the line.
The footage was captured on September 26 when aespa traveled to Shanghai for a scheduled fan sign event. Karina flew to Shanghai from Italy, as she appeared in Prada‘s fashion show the week before.
aespa's Karina attends Prada's Milan Fashion Week show. pic.twitter.com/MXdFbsz7Yx
— billboard (@billboard) September 25, 2025
In the short video, a male bodyguard can be seen wrapping his arm around Karina’s waist and pulling her away from nearby fans. After the clip went viral, fans claimed that Karina appeared visibly uncomfortable with the contact, even lowering her arm across her body as if in response to the unwanted touch.
Photos taken by fansites further fueled the backlash, as the bodyguard’s hand remained on her waist for quite some time.
Many fans expressed frustration over why the staff member resorted to such physical contact when less invasive methods could have been used, such as guiding her by the shoulder or simply blocking fans from getting too close.
No one has the right to touch women at the sensitive areas without consent. Karina closed her arm immediately because of discomfort.
ALL STAFFS WORKING WITH ARTIST HAS TO RESPECT THEIR PERSONAL SPACE!!!
———
누구도 동의 없이 여성의 민감한 부위를 만질 권리가 없습니다.
카리나는… pic.twitter.com/evNs3tTEb4— Mẫn ơi (@yuniverse_rkaev) September 29, 2025
the fans arent even crowding karina like that wtf. there’s many ways he couldve protected karina like you don’t touch other woman’s body like that
this is literally sexual harassment https://t.co/q46Qih6k5n
— wy (@synkbone) September 30, 2025
i can’t even imagine how karina feels being sexualized by men over and over AND FUCK MEN I HOPE ALL OF YOU DIE IN THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE pic.twitter.com/DeOrkZHWGR
— sav (@filmrinas) September 30, 2025
Fans emphasized that idols deserve the same boundaries as anyone else, stressing that professional staff should be trained to protect artists without making them feel unsafe or disrespected.
there are many other ways that the bodyguard could've protected karina and there is absolutely no reason for him to hold her like that without any consent and she is clearly uncomfortable with that?? pic.twitter.com/R1xh7pXWKA
— 👽 (@icurina) September 30, 2025
WTH IS THIS @SMTOWNGLOBAL @aespa_official that person is clearly invading her space and making her uncomfortable https://t.co/IaEHjuQ1W5
— Jazz (@mjkmwntr) September 30, 2025
this is sexual assault. the fans weren't even close enough for him to have the right to touch her and even then why didnt he just pull her from the shoulder? disgusting man took advantage of his bodyguard status to be a creep.
PROTECT YOUR ARTISTS. @SMTOWNGLOBAL @aespa_official https://t.co/iYUejBj36T
— dawn 💙⭐️🎸 (@imswerpy) September 30, 2025
The growing outrage has placed SM Entertainment under pressure to provide an explanation and take action to prevent similar incidents in the future. For now, the video remains a major talking point, leaving many questioning the company’s handling of its artists’ safety and personal space.
