Upcoming “Dehumanizing” Survival Show For Girl Groups Hit With Major Backlash

A new survival show for girl groups has sparked fury.

A screenshot from the new show | Naver Cloud

The second season of the show AI-DOL was announced with the groups WOOAH, CSR, PURPLE KISS, ICHILLIN’, Dreamnote, and LIGHTSUM taking part. The groups will compete against each other and then be judged by the AI producer. The article shared photos of what fans could expect, including the AI producer and ways that the groups would be judged.

The AI producer and contestants | Naver Cloud

| Naver Cloud

When the trailer was posted on X, it sparked major backlash from netizens.

CSR, ICHILLIN’, Dreamnote, Purple Kiss, Lightsum and WOOAH are set to compete in the 2nd season of survival show ‘AI-DOL’.

Each round, groups will perform and then be evaluated and scored by the AI producer. pic.twitter.com/R1DMNn8aWY

— nugu promoter (@nugupromoter) March 11, 2025

When the trailer was shared online, many aspects sparked anger. The increasing use of AI is constantly criticized in K-Pop due to its negative implications, but netizens also hated how the trailer made it seem like the girl groups involved were failures, especially with the line “6 K-Pop Idol Groups Who Lost Their Shine.”

Many hit back at the company’s disrespect towards the groups and approaches.

“For groups who lost their shine” Do you even KNOW who you’re talking about? pic.twitter.com/B7K1PCJgae https://t.co/SSaDZIKSVr

— ۪ fae ♐️ ◞ (@m1ngeek) March 11, 2025

Such an excellent lineup for such a shitty show idea get this AI shit AWAY FROM KPOP https://t.co/TvA7M5HjrN pic.twitter.com/BXfWcIFrUR

— m✧ (@lovingeverglow) March 11, 2025

i love ALL of these groups but this concept is fucking ass https://t.co/UqYpkxY9hS

— Tofu #bIm (@PandaKnight14) March 11, 2025

this is the most dehumanizing concept for a show i've ever seen free these girls fuck their companies and the assholes producing this https://t.co/aSXoVWfsdP

— s🗝 CoinciDestiny (@haerimchu) March 11, 2025

Could you imagine if girl groups got even a fraction of the same respect as boy groups? Bc this could easily be a road to queendom lineup that would actually help all these talented groups reach a wider audience but instead all they get is this fuckass AI show with no budget https://t.co/rE7jN1TfD7

— biggest choevi lover (@2souII2) March 11, 2025

Too many survival shows in K-Pop have led to increased anger for the groups involved and combined with the use of AI, it has left sour tastes for fans.