RIIZE , one of K-pop’s rising boy groups, is facing growing backlash for reportedly lip-syncing during their recent performance at KCON LA. While fans were thrilled to see the group participate in a major international event, many expressed disappointment over the lack of live vocals especially in comparison to fellow group BOYNEXTDOOR, who delivered a high-energy live performance at Lollapalooza.
After RIIZE’s KCON LA stage aired, fans took to online communities to voice their concerns. One comment that gained traction asked, “How long is RIIZE going to keep lip-syncing?” pointing out that, aside from a few moments singing over the AR (All Recorded) track, most of the performance appeared pre-recorded.
Some fans found it frustrating that RIIZE traveled all the way to the U.S. only to lip-sync, with one saying, “They even went to KCON in America and still lip-synced, haha.”
The criticism intensified as comparisons were drawn to BOYNEXTDOOR, another K-pop act that recently performed at Lollapalooza. Fans praised BOYNEXTDOOR for singing live and showing solid vocal skills, with many stating that the group “absolutely killed it live.”
- Going all the way to the U.S. just to lip-sync was honestly lame… If you watch the live footage, it’s literally just the AR playing, it gave me secondhand embarrassment.
- Forever. According to them, SM makes them practice lip-syncing regardless of skill. They always say SM idols are the most talented, but that’s such a joke—it’s hilarious.
- Everyone who saw them live praised them, but people who stayed home are the ones criticizing. RIIZE sang everything live, but now some are saying it was lip-sync? Must be something wrong with their ears.
- Let’s be real, these guys don’t exactly have the “skilled performers” image, lol.
- Can’t you just ignore it, guys? It’s clearly someone trying to stir up fan wars.
As K-pop continues to expand globally, so do the expectations of international audiences. While RIIZE remains a promising rookie group, the reaction to their KCON USA performance suggests that fans are looking for more than just visuals and choreography—they want real vocals and stage presence.
Sources: Netizenbuzz