Bruno Mars & Rosé's Pre-Recorded MAMA Awards Performance Sparks Controversy

Chapter 1 of the ‘2024 MAMA Awards’ in Japan: A Spectacular Show with Lingering Disappointment

Chapter 1 of the ‘2024 MAMA AWARDS’ (MAMA AWARDS), held on November 22nd at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan, proceeded amidst a dazzling lineup and the fervent interest of global fans. The joint performance by Bruno Mars and **ROSÉ** was considered the highlight of the event. However, an unexpected controversy surrounding a pre-recorded performance left fans disappointed.

Source: Mnet-K-POP youtube

Bruno Mars and Rosé: High Expectations from the Start

Bruno Mars is a world-renowned artist with global hits like ‘Just the Way You Are’, ‘Uptown Funk’, and ‘That’s What I Like’, while Rosé is a global star representing K-pop as a member of Blackpink. Their collaborative stage, already having swept global charts with the song ‘Apt.’, garnered immense attention, and fans eagerly awaited their live performance.

That day, Bruno Mars and Rosé sat side-by-side in the audience, congratulating other artists on their awards, showcasing a friendly demeanor. In particular, Bruno Mars's Korean greeting of "Thank you" in his acceptance speech and the closing remarks prepared together with Rosé gave fans a special emotional moment.

Source: Mnet-K-POP youtube

Disappointment over the Pre-recorded Performance

However, their joint performance was revealed to be a pre-recorded video. The fact that this was not announced beforehand led to significant disappointment among many fans. The fact that the video was shown at the end of the event further fueled the dissatisfaction of fans who were unable to see the performance in person.

Fans expressed their outrage, stating, “We went to see Bruno Mars and Rosé’s performance live, only to find out it was pre-recorded. It feels like we’ve been scammed,”. Questions were also raised about how the audience members who appeared in the pre-recorded performance were selected.

※ Pre-recorded: ‘Pre-recorded’ (사녹)

Fan-Filmed Videos from the Venue Spread Online

The controversy intensified as fan-filmed videos from the Japanese venue circulated online alongside the released pre-recorded video. The videos revealed a rather lukewarm atmosphere, contrasting sharply with the anticipation for the performance.

Some local fans pointed out, considering Bruno Mars’s global status and popularity, that the stage production was disappointing. They added that if they had been informed beforehand about the pre-recording, their disappointment would have been less.

The MAMA Awards’ Challenges Remain

This controversy highlights the shortcomings experienced by the ‘MAMA Awards’, which aims for global expansion of K-pop, in collaborating with large-scale artists. Fans are demanding better communication and transparency in stage production, and are looking forward to improvements in future events.

Chapter 2 Continues

Meanwhile, the ‘2024 MAMA Awards’will continue with Chapter 2 on November 23rd at the Kyocera Dome in Japan. The red carpet event will begin at 1 PM, and the main ceremony at 3 PM. Fans can watch the live broadcast via Mnet and YouTube channels.