During the pre-recording for “M Countdown” on May 16, a small fire erupted on aespa’s set. Mnet confirmed that the fire, sparked by an incident on the set, was swiftly noticed and put out.
There were no injuries, and both the artists and the audience were evacuated safely. Mnet emphasized that all “M Countdown” sets are treated as flame retardant and assured that they would thoroughly review their maintenance procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
At the time of the fire, aespa was recording their comeback stage. Despite the incident, Mnet stated that the recording was completed successfully and would be broadcast as planned without any need for additional recording.
Following the fire, SM Entertainment, aespa’s management company, released a statement regarding member Winter’s health. According to the statement, Winter would sit out the live broadcast on May 16 due to health concerns that required rest and stability.
As a result, only the remaining members, Karina, Giselle, and Ningning, would participate in the live broadcast. Winter’s participation in other scheduled activities will depend on her recovery.
Aespa is set to perform “Supernova,” one of the double title tracks from their first full-length album, on the May 16 episode of “M Countdown.” The incident has not impacted the planned broadcast of their comeback stage, and fans can look forward to their performance.
Mnet and SM Entertainment’s swift actions ensured the safety of everyone involved and addressed health concerns promptly. The focus now is on Winter’s recovery and the continued promotion of aespa’s new album.