The 2025 MAMA Awards, held over two electrifying nights in Hong Kong from November 28-29, delivered a spectacle of K-pop excellence, with major wins for acts like Stray Kids, G-Dragon, aespa, and BLACKPINK members Jennie and Rosé.
However, amid the celebrations, a wave of disappointment swept through Korean online communities as BLACKPINK's Jennie was overlooked for the prestigious Best Choreography award a category where her solo track "like JENNIE" had been a frontrunner based on pre-event buzz and nominations.
Jennie, who entered the ceremony as the most-nominated soloist with nine nods across categories including Best Female Artist, Best Dance Performance Female Solo, and Best Collaboration for "ExtraL" (feat. Doechii), ultimately secured victories in Best Female Artist and Best Dance Performance Female Solo for "like JENNIE." These triumphs highlighted her commanding stage presence and artistic versatility, drawing thunderous applause from the audience at the AsiaWorld-Expo arena. Yet, the absence of a win in Best Choreography where she vied against heavyweights like aespa's "Whiplash," ALLDAY PROJECT's "WICKED," CORTIS's "GO!," and G-Dragon's "TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak)" left many K-netizens feeling a profound sense of injustice.
As the dust settles on MAMA 2025 a year marked by G-Dragon's Artist of the Year daesang and Rosé's Song of the Year for "APT." (with Bruno Mars) Jennie's camp remains unfazed. An official statement from her label, ODD ATELIER, thanked fans for their "unwavering love," hinting at more groundbreaking projects ahead. For K-netizens, the snub may fade, but the passion it ignited is a testament to Jennie's enduring impact.
In a genre defined by precision and poise, her "like JENNIE" routine snubbed or not continues to move crowds worldwide.
Read also: NCT's Taeyong Delivers Heartfelt Final Digital Calendar, Sparking Emotional Wave Among Fans