Following aespa’s recent Good Morning America performance going viral for all the wrong reasons, fans have been revisiting past stages on the same show — most notably BTS’s 2018 appearance.
The boy group’s performance has once again drawn praise, highlighting the stark contrast between reactions to the two groups.
BTS performed “IDOL” on Good Morning America back in 2018, during promotions for the repackage of their album Love Yourself: Answer. Similar to aespa’s recent U.S. promotion of “Rich Man,” BTS’s stage was part of an effort to reach international audiences while still actively promoting in Korea.
Despite performing on a relatively small stage with limited production, the group delivered a tightly choreographed, high-energy performance that left a lasting impression.
As discussions around aespa’s viral backlash spread online, clips of BTS’s stage quickly resurfaced. Many fans pointed out how BTS managed to make the small setup feel dynamic and engaging, with polished choreography and strong stage presence that captured viewers’ attention.
bts are the only ones to have good gma performances https://t.co/rRSGSjDVJJ
— sassa (@springmeetsevil) September 12, 2025
btw this was also 5 year old group at the same show with a smaller stage and worse camerawork https://t.co/8mUa5jk3fj pic.twitter.com/X53Z67oHOi
— Marcos⁷ MY LIL FANTASY IS CHAEYOUNG | (@borapricot2) September 12, 2025
Even years later, BTS’s Good Morning America performance continues to be remembered as one of their most iconic live stages in the US, demonstrating their ability to give impressive performances even under challenging circumstances.
I still remember how American locals were praising them at that time, if kpop have this reputation of being untalented it’s cause of these groups. BTS really made everyone expectations high
— Liza (@liza972004) September 13, 2025
The renewed focus comes at a time when aespa’s performance is still under scrutiny, further fueling debates about how K-pop groups adapt to international stages.
Karina, aespa’s leader and main dancer, is facing the most backlash in particular. You can read more about it below.
