G-Dragon reacts with 'thumbs down' on MAMAs post; fans speculate he’s upset about his controversial performance

G Dragon reacts Thumbs down

BIGBANG’s G-Dragon appears to have addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding his much-talked-about appearance at the 2025 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMAs), and his reaction has only intensified the discussion.

The legendary idol delivered a 15-minute performance at the award show, blending tracks from his new album Übermensch with iconic past hits. Those attending the event in person responded with enthusiasm, praising the energy, stage design, and the special collaboration with beatboxer Wing from Beatpella House. However, the response online was dramatically different.

Viewers watching through livestreams and TV broadcasts expressed disappointment almost immediately after the performance aired. Many criticised what they described as a noticeable lack of live singing. They claimed that G-Dragon often paused during songs like Heartbreaker and did not perform the full choreography. Others pointed out that even during Untitled, 2014, his live vocals appeared faint or nearly inaudible in sections.

As the debate grew, the official MAMAs social media account posted a highlight reel of G-Dragon’s stage. Under the video, the idol himself left a single comment — a 'thumbs down' emoji. This move shocked fans and critics alike.

The ambiguous reaction immediately triggered heated speculation. Some viewers interpreted the emoji as G-Dragon admitting dissatisfaction with his own performance, acknowledging the criticism circulating online. Given the intense scrutiny over his vocal delivery and stage presence, many felt the comment was a rare moment of self-awareness from the artist.

I’m sad/frustrated for GD bc I know he takes his live stages very seriously & it seems he was preparing this for weeks. Him commenting the thumbs down speaks volumes like man just won 4 awards including artist of the year but he’s still upset about his performance. pic.twitter.com/XTEgZI5DTD

— 🖤 (@lovenotagan) November 29, 2025

him commenting the thumbs down breaks my heart🥲💔 but this just shows he is his worst critic which is the biggest strength an artist could have - jiyong my goat you were amazing tonight — mathisred (@IstanUxxxi) November 29, 2025

On the other hand, a large portion of fans and neutral observers saw his reaction differently. They believe the thumbs-down was directed not at his performance, but at Mnet’s broadcast production quality. Numerous fans who attended the event shared videos taken onsite, arguing that the audio heard inside the venue differed significantly from what viewers heard through MAMAs’ official stream.

Also Read: 2025 MAMA Awards: G-Dragon wins Artist of the Year; acknowledges the fire tragedy and says, 'This year's activities feel different'

These comparisons fueled a theory that technical or mixing issues may have misrepresented his live vocals, impacting how the performance was received by the wider audience. Supporters noted that fan-recorded clips captured stronger live singing and smoother transitions than what was broadcast.