On November 29, 2025, BABYMONSTER stepped onto the MAMA Awards stage with their long-awaited rendition of “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters,” performed by members Ahyeon, Rora, and Pharita as HUNTRIX. However, the stage became a hot topic for all the wrong reasons. Instead of praise, the BABYMONSTER members found themselves at the front of criticism that spread across social media.
Most opinions targeted the group’s vocal delivery, with viewers calling the song’s high notes “painful” and “uncomfortable to listen to.” Some argued that BABYMONSTER relies too heavily on belting high notes, confusing volume with technique. Comments like “It was like the high notes were just screaming” and “Ahyeon sings way too high” summed up the dissatisfaction from some users. Many commenters went as far as questioning the group’s vocal direction altogether, suggesting they rethink their style if they want long-term improvement.
While many MONSTIEZ (that’s BABYMONSTER’s fandom) defended the performance by mentioning the difficulty of the song and Ahyeon’s young age, the dominant conversation remained overwhelmingly critical towards the girl group. This rendition of “Golden” was supposed to be a standout of the show, but instead turned into one of the night’s most divisive discussions.