J-pop singer Ado faces backlash over K-pop festival appearance, agency warns of legal action over online harassment
Japanese singer Ado faced backlash from some concertgoers following her headline performance at Inkigayo Live in Tokyo on 23 Sept.
Known for largely keeping her face out of the public eye, Ado performed inside her signature backlit stage enclosure at the K-pop festival.
However, audience members were reportedly told not to film, take photos, or use binoculars during her set.
Source: @ado_staff_official on Instagram
The restrictions drew criticism online, with some attendees also expressing frustration that the usual all-artist finale did not take place on the second night.
Following the backlash, Ado’s management agency Cloud Nine warned that it would take action against posts it deemed defamatory or excessively abusive.
Filming and binoculars reportedly banned during Ado’s performance
Ado was part of the line-up for the second night of Inkigayo Live in Tokyo, held at Belluna Dome in Saitama on 22 and 23 Sept.
The event is based on South Korean music programme ‘SBS Inkigayo’ and brought together K-pop acts alongside Japanese performers.
Ado performed last on 23 Sept, after acts including IVE, BE, &TEAM, INI, and HANA.
The Japanese singer first gained widespread attention with her 2020 debut single ‘Usseewa’, which later topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
She has since provided the singing voice of Uta in ‘One Piece Film: Red’ and collaborated with acts including Imagine Dragons and Le Sserafim.
Source: @ado_staff_official on Instagram
Throughout her career, Ado has also maintained a distinctive approach to privacy, rarely revealing her face publicly and often performing as a silhouette inside a specially lit stage enclosure.
Source: @ado_staff_official on Instagram
Much of the controversy centred on the viewing restrictions imposed during her Inkigayo performance.
Source: @cnagat on X
Audience members were reportedly instructed not to film, take photographs, or use binoculars during her set.
For some K-pop fans, this proved particularly contentious, as filming is permitted at certain K-pop events and has become part of the concert-going culture for some attendees.
Another point of frustration was the absence of the usual finale featuring the event’s performers together onstage.
However, there has been no official explanation for why the finale did not take place, and it has not been established that Ado or her performance requirements were responsible.
Ado instead ended her own set with a performance of ‘Odoru Ponpokorin’, best known as the theme song from anime ‘Chibi Maruko-chan’.
Some fans criticise restrictions and perceived favouritism towards Ado
Following the show, dissatisfied concertgoers took to social media to criticise the arrangements.
Some felt Ado had been given too many special accommodations compared with the event’s other performers, particularly over the restrictions on filming and binoculars.
Photos also circulated of attendees making middle-finger gestures at the venue and calling for refunds.
Source: @jkyxhn on X
Others directed their criticism at Ado herself. One X user wrote that they hoped she would not appear at future K-pop events, while another posted: “Stay inside this cage for the rest of your life.”
Another attendee, who said they were themselves an Ado fan, argued that the requirements surrounding her appearances at festivals could be excessive.
However, other fans defended the singer, pointing out that her performances have long been staged around protecting her privacy and keeping her face from clear view.
Some also urged others to separate criticism of the event’s organisation from personal attacks against Ado.
Others questioned the organisers’ decision to place her as the closing act at an event primarily marketed around K-pop artists.
Ado’s agency responds to backlash and warns against online harassment
Amid the mounting criticism, Cloud Nine president Takuya Chigira addressed the controversy on 26 Sept.
He began by thanking those who attended the festival and reassuring concerned fans that Ado was doing fine.
Mr Chigira then explained why the singer had taken part in the event, saying organisers had invited her as part of their aim to bring K-pop and Japanese artists together.
Source: @ado_staff_official on Instagram
He added that he had ultimately made the decision for Ado to participate.
According to Mr Chigira, Ado had hoped the performance would help Korean fans discover more about Japan, while giving her own fans the chance to enjoy K-pop acts at the event.
Addressing the criticism directly, he said there was a distinction between expressing an opinion and making defamatory remarks, adding that Cloud Nine would take action where it deemed comments to have crossed that line.
That same day, Cloud Nine issued a broader statement on online harassment involving its artists.
The company said it had observed abusive comments, false information, impersonation, manipulated images, and other harmful posts circulating online.
It warned that it was prepared to take measures including legal action, and could work with police, lawyers, and other relevant authorities where necessary.
Cloud Nine also asked members of the public to report potentially abusive or defamatory posts through its reporting form.
Mr Chigira ended his own message by expressing his hope for a world “filled with kindness and compassion”.
Ado herself has not publicly addressed the Inkigayo backlash.
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Featured image adapted from @ado1024sweetpotet on Instagram (for illustration purposes only) and @callmetaidapls on X.