YG Entertainment Shocks Fans After Announcing A Change To BABYMONSTER’s Final Line-Up
YG Entertainment announced in May 2021 that they were preparing to debut a new girl group, their first since BLACKPINK‘s debut in 2016.
Over a year later, fans got their first proper look at the awaited group, BABYMONSTER, through an official teaser released by YG Entertainment.
It was formerly speculated that the group would have seven members after a fan captured seven female trainees entering the company building. YG Entertainment appeared to confirm that theory on December 30, 2022, when they released a teaser poster showing seven silhouettes, followed by a promise to release more about the group on January 1.
Since the beginning of the year, YG Entertainment has been introducing the BABYMONSTER members one by one through videos showcasing their life as a trainee and their skills through trainee evaluations and live performances.
Members Ruka, Pharita, Rora, Asa, Chiquita, Ahyeon, and Haram were introduced as the seven members of BABYMONSTER, and fans quickly fell for their charm and talents. The members trained alongside YG Entertainment seniors such as AKMU, BLACKPINK‘s Jennie, Lisa, and Rosé, WINNER‘s Hoony and Yoon, and famed dancer, YGX‘s Lee Jung, raising anticipation for the group.
Up until now, the group has been shown working together as seven, and trainees occasionally joined them with blurred faces, which netizens assumed were trainees who didn’t make the group’s final line-up.
YG Entertainment’s latest teaser for the group, Last Evaluation, completely shocked fans when it revealed that BABYMONSTER would not be debuting as a seven-member group.
The company’s founder and executive producer Yang Hyun Suk started by acknowledging the talent of the seven announced members.
After years of thorough consideration, we’ve narrowed it down to seven very talented trainees.
— Yang Hyun Suk
He then dropped the shocking announcement,
BABYMONSTER will never be a seven member group. It will definitely be less than seven.
— Yang Hyun Suk
To determine which of the seven pre-debut members will make the final line-up, the group will have one “last evaluation,” which will be shared with fans before the final reveal.
Fans immediately expressed their disappointment in the decision after following along with the seven members’ journeys.
We had the same reaction bcs wtf…
Babymonster isn't 7???
Is that why some have different intros…? pic.twitter.com/hjyPZNFFFw— proud_serene ಇ 𓃺♭ (@proud_serene) March 5, 2023
How can you choose less than 7 members when each of them is unique and talented. I hope the last evaluation changed their mind 😭
BABYMONSTER OT7#BABYMONSTER #베이비몬스터 @YGBABYMONSTER_ pic.twitter.com/SHZKCAY63o
— babymonster gallery (@gallerybaemon) March 5, 2023
they trained so hard to debut, they have the perfect chemestry to be a perfect group, they are all all-roundres and yg introduced them to just kick some out? BABYMONSTER DESERVE TO BE 7
BABYMONSTER OT7#BABYMONSTER #베이비몬스터 @YGBABYMONSTER_ pic.twitter.com/LbspfQBNUm
— BABYMONSTER PICS (@bbymonsterpics) March 5, 2023
our girls trained hard and for a very long time for them not to debut together :/ they really don’t deserve this they look so good as 7 @ygent_official DON’T SEPARATE THEM!! 😭
BABYMONSTER OT7#BABYMONSTER #베이비몬스터 @YGBABYMONSTER_ pic.twitter.com/bhkAi2tO6j
— asa pics (@asaspics) March 5, 2023
what the actual hell ? why is YG not debuting baby monster as 7 member girl group anymore ? after releasing all the members playlists and introduces he decided to make a member or two leave why ?? #BABYMONSTER #RUKA #CHIQUITA #ASA #HARAM #PHARITA #RORA #AHYEON #YG_NEW_GROUP #YG pic.twitter.com/6QsunaGZxN
— CALL ME NINA "~" (~SWISSE~) (@NEWJEANSBUNN) March 5, 2023
The “Last Evaluation” is coming soon; in the meantime, check out the surprising teaser below:
