Female stars push back as appearance-shaming comments spark backlash
Ivy, left, and Bada / Xportsnews
A lighthearted social media clip turned into a flashpoint over online toxicity this week, as singer and musical actor Ivy fired back at rude comments about her looks — the latest in a string of incidents targeting female celebrities in Korea.
On Saturday, Ivy uploaded a short video to her personal account, calling it a "legendary moment." In the clip, she jokes about loud construction noise when a U.S. creator suddenly pops into frame and teases her in Korean, saying, "You’re louder." Ivy laughs and responds playfully, keeping the tone upbeat.
Ivy / Captured from Ivy's personal social media account
The video quickly drew attention online for its humor and cross-cultural banter. But amid the buzz, a wave of comments shifted the focus to Ivy’s appearance.
Some users wrote remarks such as "I guess even Ivy can’t escape aging" and "Time is scary," while one commenter bluntly asked, "What happened to your face?"
Ivy chose not to ignore it. "Because I got older," she replied directly, a response that many fans praised as both honest and composed.
Supportive comments soon flooded in. "She’s still beautiful — we all age naturally," one user wrote. Others criticized the tone of the attacks, saying, "Too many people just dump whatever comes to mind without thinking," and "Why ruin a fun video with appearance judgments?"
Ivy also addressed the broader pattern with sarcasm. "People will die if they don’t point out looks and age," she said. "They do it to even the most stunning celebrities … so who am I not to be judged? Haha."
Bada / Captured from Bada's personal social media account
The controversy comes shortly after a similar case involving singer Bada, a former member of first-generation K-pop group S.E.S. She faced plastic surgery speculation after posting recent photos, with some users questioning her changed appearance.
Bada responded the next day by uploading unfiltered, barefaced images. "Today, I’m facing it head-on as I am, without heavy filters," she said, emphasizing "real me" and "as is" through hashtags. She even shared deliberately unflattering shots with her eyes closed, leaning into authenticity.
Keeping the tone playful, she added, "Next time I’ll come back fully made up with filters — just a heads-up, don’t be surprised."
The back-to-back incidents have reignited debate over online culture and the scrutiny female celebrities face, particularly around aging and appearance.
Many netizens have expressed frustration with the recurring pattern. "They’re still beautiful — what more do people want?" one comment read. Another said, "Whenever a female celebrity reappears, it’s always ‘her face changed,’ ‘she did something,’ ‘she aged.’ It’s exhausting."
Others pointed to projection behind such remarks. "People who leave those comments are just venting their own frustrations about aging," one user wrote.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.