C-net Outraged as Cortis’ James Uses Only English in MAMA Speech, Fueling “One China” Controversy

The 2025 MAMA Awards have officially wrapped, but online controversy is only heating up. This time, the center of discussion is James (Zhao Yufan) — the Taiwanese member of rookie K-pop boy group Cortis, who took home the award for Best New Artist.

During the group’s acceptance speech, James stepped forward to represent the team. Instead of speaking Mandarin or Korean, the idol chose to deliver his speech entirely in English, expressing gratitude to fans and offering condolences to the victims of the recent Hong Kong fire tragedy. While many international viewers appreciated the thoughtful message, the reaction from Chinese netizens was quite different.

Shortly after the ceremony aired, discussions on Chinese social platforms intensified. Some netizens questioned why a Taiwanese member did not speak a single word of Chinese, especially at an event with a significant Chinese viewer base. Many pointed out that K-pop idols from other countries often make an effort to use Mandarin during global award ceremonies to connect with fans. Others argued that James’ choice of English seemed “avoidable,” considering his cultural background.

Despite the criticism, some fans defended the idol, explaining that English might have been chosen due to the global nature of the event or company guidelines. Nevertheless, the debate quickly escalated when another issue emerged.

C-net’s anger grew further after viewers noticed the official MAMA survey form, where the categories listed for nationality included “China – Hong Kong – Taiwan” as three separate and equal options. Chinese netizens interpreted this as treating the regions like individual countries, instead of labeling them as “Hong Kong, China” or “Taiwan, China.”

This immediately sparked accusations that MAMA had:

• Disrespected the One China principle
• Created unnecessary geopolitical controversy
• Failed to manage regional sensitivities

The topic rapidly climbed trending charts in China, with many calling the classification “irresponsible” for such a large-scale Asian awards show. As the controversy continues to spread across Weibo, forums, and comment sections, neither MAMA organizers nor Cortis’ agency have issued an official statement regarding the matter. Meanwhile, international fans are urging everyone to focus on the music and the group’s achievement, rather than political conflicts.

Cortis, a rising rookie group, has been gaining momentum throughout 2025, and their win for Best New Artist was considered a significant milestone. However, the post-MAMA fallout highlights just how delicate cross-cultural and geopolitical issues can be within the K-pop industry.

Whether the organizers will address the survey format or clarify their stance remains to be seen.

Sources: FB