Popular Idol Finds Out About “MAMA Awards” Win In The Most Unexpected Way… Days Later
Red Velvet’s Irene unintentionally created one of the most surprising moments of this year’s award season… and it had nothing to do with her appearance at the event.
Instead, it happened quietly on Bubble, where she learned from fans after the fact that she had won a major award at the 2025 MAMA Awards.
On November 28, during the first night of MAMA, Irene secured the “Fan’s Choice” Bonsang, ranking among the top 10 female idols.
[#2025MAMA] WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT of 2025 MAMA AWARDS🏆
FANS’ CHOICE FEMALE TOP 10
IRENE (아이린)HEAR MY ROAR, UH-HEUNG
2025 MAMA AWARDS#MAMAAWARDS #2025MAMAAWARDS pic.twitter.com/DtEDw5hi66— MAMA AWARDS (@MnetMAMA) November 28, 2025
The category relied entirely on fan votes, and many were impressed to see the overwhelming support she had gathered throughout the voting period. However, what nobody expected was that Irene herself had no idea she’d won.
The surprising detail came to light on December 2, days after both nights of the ceremony had already wrapped. While exchanging casual messages on Bubble, fans brought up her achievement, prompting Irene to react with complete disbelief.
Irene: “Ah…? I got an award?”
Irene: “No one told me though.. Oh my god”
Irene: “Oh my…… I see it’s an award Luvies really worked hard on voting for!!!ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅠㅠ I didn’t know, I’m so sorry, thank you ㅠㅠㅠㅠ”
Irene: “Thank you so much, really… ㅜㅠㅠ (Thinking about) how much you must’ve cared about this during the whole voting period to give me this award, it’s crazy really ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅠㅠ I’m so sorry I only found out about this now 🥺”
As more fans explained what had happened, her shock turned emotional. She apologised repeatedly, expressing how meaningful the award was, given the effort fans put into securing it for her.
Meanwhile, her reaction has sparked outrage among fans, who blame SM Entertainment for not letting their artist know about the award win.
irene on bubble right now pic.twitter.com/WfsBZB3ty7 https://t.co/0adP3X7XZI
— ellehcim is waiting for BJH2 ౨ৎ (@vlvtmxre) December 2, 2025
It’s honestly infuriating how SM handles things. They’ve spent years downplaying the girls’ success and now Irene wasn’t even informed about the MAMA award where she placed 2nd
It’s exhausting and they deserve so much better than this. pic.twitter.com/8ncp9QOYmx
— Elle 𓆩𓆪 (@chobomseulrene) December 2, 2025
I truly don't understand the purpose of this company and its disregard for its artist… how can she win an important award and not inform her about it, and to make matters worse, she even apologizes to the fans for not knowing she had won the award? this is frustrating! https://t.co/bk3EQu0Cnw
— thaly (@thalyonfilm) December 2, 2025
