K-Pop Fans Claim Recent BoA Hate Comments Are Rooted In Ageism

K-Pop legend BoA‘s career first began in 2000, with the release of her first solo album when she was just 13 years old.

Now at the age of 36, BoA is still active in her career, releasing both solo works…

…and participating in activities as a member of the project group GOT The Beat.

With its all-star lineup of BoA, Girls’ Generation‘s Taeyeon and Hyoyeon, Red Velvet‘s Seulgi and Wendy, and aespa‘s Karina and Winter, many have wondered why the group has had lukewarm reactions to their recent release, Stamp On It.

Recently, BoA was the target of some mixed reactions from netizens after her comments about GOT The Beat’s “lower than expected” music video views during a music show performance (seen below from 5:30 and 5:45).

Our music video isn’t getting as many views as I’d expected. Please go watch it! Have a happy new year. And take care of yourselves. Thank you!

— BoA

Other comments about BoA’s participation in GOT The Beat have been less constructive criticism and more focused on her age over anything else.

boa you were grown ass grandma, she didn't even try to read the room💀 now I know why eveyone so shameless receiving rigged award lmao😂 https://t.co/Q8jhB2W775

— GIGI (@antiselle) January 22, 2023

u r olddd damn girl, pls understand that https://t.co/3pODcjrA0S

— ra (@exist4irene) January 22, 2023

Fans have begun defending BoA from these “ageist” comments, saying that 36 is not old and that it is great she is still so active after more than 20 years in the industry. Some have even compared BoA to many other musicians like Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and Shakira, who are the same age or older than the K-Pop star.

the hate boa receives goes beyond personal preferences because literally no one is making a fuss over performers in the western industry who are the same age as her

— zane (@gingamingayew) January 20, 2023

Others have brought up the recent debates over debuting minors in groups, saying it is hypocritical to talk badly about BoA over her age but wish for more adults to debut. BoA was included in a discussion about debuting teenage idols alongside SHINee‘s Taemin and NewJeans.

boa is older than taeyeon only by 2.5 years but i never see people discriminating taeyeon because of her age as mush as they do with boa

for example karina is older than ningning by 2.5 years as well so imagine calling karina a hag in comparison to ningning in the future https://t.co/iDjw9ty8fr

— 𝐞♱𝐧 (@amuraa2000) January 22, 2023

Others have attributed GOT The Beat’s music video views to poor decisions made by SM Entertainment, as a performance video for the song was released two weeks before the actual music video.

While constructive criticism is expected with any release, idols should not be subjected to negativity based on their age.