Karina was accused of magically badmouthing 3 members from the 3 top boy groups before we even got the first teaser.
The girls were likened to prostitues as soon as their concept was announced.
People made up rumours about SM opening a hotel business for the avatars to provide sexual services to fans (just imagine how fucking vile and stupid people can be to believe this)
And most importantly the group was accused of supporting the uyghur genocide.
All of these were lies and rumours that kpop fans believed at face value and weaponised them against the girls. People literally didn't shut up about the sex services shit until SM had explicitly threatened legal action. But, hey it's all in our heads.
I know if at least one of these things happened to one of their favorite bgs they wouldn't stop talking about it (rightfully) but since it's aespa it doesn't matter it's normal criticism and they deserved it because SM stans are annoying.
Just recently someone reposted all the predebut accusations about aespa, and people were really claiming SM would use the aes for genocide....
