How the performance was put together has since raised questions.

When it was first announced that BLACKPINK‘s Rosé and Bruno Mars would both be gracing the “2024 MAMA Awards” in Japan, fans could not hide their excitement. And, as much-anticipated as their appearance was, the superstar duo was celebrated at the show—turning fellow K-Pop idols into fans, too.

But after the show aired, including a pre-recorded performance of “APT” on the big screen, questions were raised about MAMA’s “foul behavior.”

MAMA marketed Rosé and Bruno Mars’s appearance to be for a “special stage.” Until the second that the pre-recording was shown, it was—according to the audience—not announced that it would not be a live performance.

That said, those who attended and who watched from home are now alleging that MAMA has “scammed” the viewers for the “tickets” and “viewership.” Hundreds of comments were piled across online communities, all criticizing MAMA for pulling such a trick.

• “Huh. It wasn’t a live performance? A pre-recording was shown instead? I would have guessed that the two would perform in person… That’s how the performance was marketed.”
• “Bruno is popular in Japan, too. I’m sure there are people who bought tickets to see him perform live. This sucks. I mean, people watching from home were feeling scammed. I’m sure it was worse for the people who went in person.”
• “For real… CJ wanted the clout, so it wasn’t announced. Which is foul.”
• “Oh, man. Sometimes when idols swap out a live performance with a pre-recorded one at award shows or year-end performances, they still go on stage and perform a little bit. I guess they didn’t even do that… People must feel played.”
• “This is on MAMA and not on Rosé or Bruno Mars. A live band performance would have been possible if they didn’t chop up the award show into three nights and budgeted to have one night done right.”
• “Oh, people have all the right to be pissed. Even at music shows, idols go on stage to perform even when there is a pre-recording. If something like this happened at a show I paid money for? I’d be feeling scammed.”
• “Should’ve been announced… Those tickets were not cheap.”
• “If it wasn’t announced, this is a borderline scam. MAMA is crazy.”
• “F*cking CJ, too. They marketed this like it’d be a live performance, too.”
• “So they scammed people into buying tickets… And even with the pre-recording being shown, the artists usually do go on stage. I guess even that wasn’t done and it was literally a video showing.”
• “But why [was it a pre-recording]?”

While some tried to understand the need for a pre-recorded performance, given the live band and all, most called out MAMA for using the duo’s name for clout and then letting the audience down big time.

It’s understandable why Rosé and Bruno Mars opted for a pre-recording (to have a live band). I also think the two were considerate in showing up anyway to receive the award in person. The problem is with MAMA. Had MAMA announced that it would be a pre-recorded performance being shown, no one would’ve felt this let down. But they didn’t. And it’s obvious why CJ kept it a mystery until the very end. Probably wanted the clout for their award show, am I wrong?

— Netizen Comment

Still, the performance itself has been praised. Plus, the audience did get to see Rosé and Bruno Mars accept their award in person—even leading to an “awkward” moment that showed off their personalities.

Read more about it below.