Nayeon (임나연), a member of the popular South Korean girl group TWICE (트와이스), has recently become embroiled in fan controversy. She made a surprise appearance at American singer Charlie Puth's concert in Korea, where the two performed their hit song “We Don’t Talk Anymore.” What was anticipated to be a dream collaboration unexpectedly drew criticism from some fans after the performance, with some even hoping it would be their last.
Nayeon took the stage as a guest, performing “We Don’t Talk Anymore” with Puth. While many audience members appreciated her vocals and stage presence, some fans expressed disappointment due to Puth's past controversies, leading to ongoing criticism on social media platforms.
Among the concerns, Puth has previously faced accusations of inappropriate behavior from Jade Thirlwall of British girl group Little Mix and actress Bella Thorne, which sparked public discussion. Additionally, his social media posts following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023, led some netizens to label him a “Zionist,” further fueling controversy.
Many fans took to social media to express their disappointment over Nayeon's collaboration with Puth, with some even hoping it would be their last and that they would not see the two work together again. One user directly stated, “I hope this is their only collaboration, and they never share a stage again.” Another fan, while expressing their love for Nayeon, voiced significant disappointment with her choice, believing she deserved better collaboration opportunities.
Other netizens directed their criticism at Puth, accusing him of continuously using the song to gain attention and even questioning whether the song's style suited Nayeon's vocal tone. Some also expressed dissatisfaction with her performing alongside an artist associated with political labels, deeming the collaboration disappointing.
Beyond the controversial collaborator, Nayeon's vocal performance during the concert also drew criticism from some netizens. Comparisons were made to one of the original vocalists, Selena Gomez, with some arguing that Gomez's vocal delivery was superior. One comment sarcastically asked, “Where is her pitch?” Others mocked Nayeon, suggesting her stage presence couldn't even match Gomez's.
This collaboration was initially a rare opportunity for Nayeon to perform with an international artist. However, due to the past controversies of her collaborator and criticism from some netizens regarding her performance, it unexpectedly escalated into an online debate. Currently, these comments primarily originate from certain social media users, and neither Nayeon nor TWICE's official channels have yet responded to the wave of criticism.
