aespa Karina’s Recent “Disrespectful” Outfit Hit With Backlash

One of aespa Karina’s outfits was recently hit with backlash, but not in an expected way.

aespa’s Karina | SM Entertainment

The group recently held a special fan meeting in Japan for fans, titled TO MY WORLD. This was aespa’s first-ever event exclusively for their fanclub in Japan, and took place on May 25.

| SM Entertainment</i

Fans were entertained with various performances during the show, with all the members looking gorgeous in their stage outfits. During one portion of the show, Karina was spotted wearing a pink tank top with black lettering.

While the idol looked beautiful and stylish, a detail of the outfit has sparked some criticism of SM Entertainment.

Karina’s top says “number 0 should always be yourself, I ♡ me,” which is a phrase used by NCT Jaemin‘s collaboration with ITZVIBE. For the release of his photobook, Narcissism, Jaemin collaborated with the brand for multiple clothing items.

NCT’s Jaemin | SM Entertainment

| SM Entertainment

Karina’s top seems to combine the logo and the phrase, and is not one of the items sold for the collaboration.

A reverse image search shows the top available on a number of sites for sale, with no mention of Jaemin or the collaboration.

While there are a lot of reproductions of merchandise made my K-Pop idols, fans were surprised that an SM Entertainment stylist used  a copy of another SM idol’s merchandise to dress Karina.

Oh……….🥲 https://t.co/6i89bJd7R5 pic.twitter.com/Azywse6e2v

— 🐱🌸 (@seimeizu) May 25, 2025

What the hell is this? If it was a fan wearing a pirated outfit I would understand, but the damn SM stylist thought it would be good form to give it to Karina to wear???? They never valued Jaemin's work with narcissism and now they do this. Fvck u @SMTOWNGLOBAL https://t.co/LMaVdZrICH

— xin (@skyfalight_) May 25, 2025

Narcissism is owned and registered in Jaemin's name and not SM. So I don't really support any piracy of it but for an SM staff to buy this and let their artist wear them is crazy as if SM gaf about Jaemin and also does @ITZAVIBE_kr know this? THIS IS A FAKE PRODUCT of narcissism! https://t.co/lAXFpomt3c

— Hậu Py (@haup2642001) May 25, 2025

Most fans do not blame Karina for this happening, but rather have directed their criticism to SM Entertainment and aespa’s stylists.