What happens when a “controversy” ends up being the best thing to happen to your music? For Kwon Eunbi, that’s the irony of the 2025 Waterbomb stage performance controversy. Because with all the backlashes and criticism against her, something else is unfolding behind the stage—something that’s even more definitive and undeniable.
So, now that the controversy is becoming an annual event for Kwon Eunbi every time Summer and Waterbomb collide, should she keep on doing it? Join our discussion below and let us know what you think.
Kwon Eunbi Controversy at Waterbomb Stage: Why 2025 Feels Different
If you’ve followed Kwon Eunbi for a while, you already know the name “Waterbomb Goddess” didn’t come out of nowhere. It was earned back in 2023—and owned throughout the years. But in 2025, that title came roaring back with a sharper edge and louder consequences.
Kwon Eunbi 2025 performance at the Waterbomb Seoul Festival didn’t just revive her “Waterbomb Goddess” nickname. It recharged every debate about performance, female sexuality, and public expectations for women in K-pop.
From the moment she stepped on stage, untied her top to reveal a white bikini, and launched into a powerfully choreographed rendition of “Crazy in Love,” the internet lit up in awe.
But at the same time, this 2025 Waterbomb stage performance became another controversy against the Goddess Kwon Eunbi. And this time, it feels entirely different.
Waterbom Stage 2024 VS 2025: The Calm Before the (Bikini) Storm
Let’s rewind. In 2024, Kwon Eunbi stepped onto the Waterbomb stage with a toned-down outfit and zero controversy. In fact, attention that year pivoted toward Jeewon of Cignature, whose voluptuous figure and daring attire drew much of the spotlight.
Ironically, the absence of “controversy” for Eunbi in 2024 also means the fact that she did not gain enough attention. No viral clips. No trending hashtags. Just another stage in her lineup. And that’s simply because what she wore was not revealing enough. That’s why the focus diverted onto someone else who fit this demand.
Fast forward to 2025—and Eunbi returns bolder, with a performance so visually calculated and cinematically paced that the entire industry took notice.
The media called it “too sexy.” Online forums spiraled into body shaming.
But the same netizens who claimed she was “doing too much” also couldn’t stop replaying her fan cams. What do you think this means?
The Viral Numbers No One Can Argue With
Now, here’s the more ironic part that critics don’t want to talk about—the numbers.
Let’s look at Eunbi’s track “Underwater”:
- July 3: 9,668 streams
- July 4: 8,788 streams
- July 5: 9,139 streams
- July 6 (post-Waterbomb): 1,389,103 streams
That’s over 1.3 million in one day. A 1,379,964-stream spike. And it wasn’t just Spotify—YouTube views surged, Twitter trended globally, and her Instagram followers jumped by nearly 120K in 72 hours.
Meanwhile, “Hello Stranger,” her 2025 single, began climbing iTunes charts in Taiwan, Thailand, and Hong Kong. And this was not a mere performance hype for Kwon Eunbi—it was commercial resurrection.
So, really. What’s with all the noise on the 2025 Waterbomb stage controversy against Kwon Eunbi? What are Korean netizens punishing her for?
The REAL Cost of Kwon Eunbi and Her 2025 Waterbomb Stage Controversy
You’ve probably heard people say, “She knows what she’s doing—it’s all just for attention.” That maybe Kwon Eunbi leans into the controversy because it keeps her in the headlines.
But let’s pause and think about what that really means.
When the public crowned her as the “Waterbomb Goddess” in 2023, nobody had expected it. And when Kwon Eunbi didn’t gain enough attention when she covered herself at 2024 Waterbomb, it would require her—and her agency to shift the strategy.
Kwon Eunbi didn’t build that standard—she’s just trying to navigate it. And let’s be honest: not every artist gets to choose which parts of them get amplified.
And so, each Waterbomb stage makes her name trend, and her brand is growing stronger. But so does the pressure to top herself every year.
Now, no matter what she releases, people are already asking the same thing: what will she wear next time?
Then, came the university festival rumors. Right after Waterbomb 2025, an anonymous online post accused a university attendee of making a crude, inappropriate remark toward Eunbi during her performance.
Translationg: It's honestly heartbreaking what Kwon Eunbi has to go through. When she performs at university festivals, she constantly gets sexually harassed. At a festival for a certain university in Daejeon, she tried to interact with the students, holding the mic and asking… https://t.co/qrg4jIveo4
— Translating misogyny in Korea (@translatingsk) July 7, 2025
The post spread fast, but no official complaint followed—but it still struck a nerve.
Because with the controversy and sexual harassment that follow, did Waterbomb Goddess Kwon Eunbi make a bold return at 2025 stage performance because she wants to?
Hopefully, she didn’t do it to just carry a brand, but because it was her own decision. Because she wants to be fully in control and own the narrative that was thrown at her in the first place and not just go with the flow.
More Waterbomb Controversy in 2025: Should She Keep Doing This?
Now, this is the very question you may be asking now: despite the controversy and 2025 Waterbomb stage issue, should Kwon Eunbi keep on doing this? After all, the deeper this “Waterbomb Goddess” identity takes root, the more it demands of her—not just as a performer, but as a person.
Because when the Waterbomb stage comes each year, it will be more than just a festival for Kwon Eunbi. It’s time for the Goddess descents for annual rebranding, fulfilling the public expectations.
But at the same time, this festival will become a double-edged sword that defines public perception about her, far more than any comeback teaser or music show appearance.
While it’s not inherently bad—but it does come with a cost.
They force female idols into a paradox—where embracing power is empowering, until that power makes people uncomfortable. And when it does, they’re the ones left picking up the pieces.
A Performance Is Only Powerful If It Still Belongs to Her
So… should she keep doing this? Only if she still feels like it’s hers.
Not because fans expect it. Not because the headlines need another “Waterbomb moment.” And definitely not because the industry has decided this is the only space she gets to claim.
Because really, Eunbi’s artistry runs far deeper than a single stage. Her songwriting, her creative direction, her vocals, they all speak to a performer who is constantly evolving.
Read our previous coverage: The Complete Profile of Waterbomb Goddess and Breathtaking Soloist Kwon Eunbi.
And if the Waterbomb is a part of that evolution, then it deserves to be seen as such. Not as a gimmick, but as a deliberate, controlled extension of her artistry.
But the moment it stops being hers—if it ever starts to feel like a trap rather than a choice—then no viral spike is worth it.
Because performance is power, yes—but only when the performer owns it. And if there’s one thing the Kwon Eunbi Waterbomb stage controversy in 2025 taught us, it’s that owning your narrative is far harder than going viral.
The Power Behind Goddess Kwon Eunbi Beyond 2025 Waterbomb Stage Controversy
In the end, the real story behind the controversy against Kwon Eunbi at Waterbomb stage 2025 isn’t just about bikinis, backlash, or viral streams. It’s about a woman learning how to shape her image in a world that keeps trying to do it for her.
The 2025 Waterbomb stage gave Kwon Eunbi visibility—but it also gave her a mirror and controversy. Each year, she has to ask herself: is this still my reflection?
You don’t have to agree with her choices to understand the pressure behind them. But if she’s choosing to keep showing up—not for the clicks, but for herself—that deserves more than applause. It deserves respect.
Because when an idol becomes the headline, the brand, and the battleground all at once… the least we can do is listen to what she’s actually saying.
And maybe, just maybe—this time, we let her speak first.
So now we’re asking you: what do you see when she steps onto that stage?
And more importantly—what do you expect her to be?
Let us know what you think.
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