[Nate] ROSE'S 'APT.' PERFORMANCE DRAWS HARSH CRITICISM, COMPARED TO A HIGHSCHOOL TALENT SHOW... SPARKS DEBATE AMONG INTERNATIONAL FANS
BLACKPINK member Rose’s live performance of “APT.” in the United States has sparked a debate among international internet users over her vocal abilities.
On the 8th (Korean time), American entertainment publication The Hollywood Reporter posted a video on its official X account showing Rosé performing “APT.” at the 2026 LACMA Art+Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on the 7th (local time). As of the 11th, the post had surpassed 3.4 million views.
Viewers who watched the video left a series of harsh comments criticizing Rose’s singing.
One user described the performance as “horrible,” adding that it “sounds like a middle school talent show.” Another commented, “Her voice is so average. I wonder how she became this famous.”
Other criticisms included comments such as, “The vocals are a mess in this performance,” and “She gets out of breath way too quickly.”
Some also remarked, “This is embarrassing. She has absolutely no stage presence to draw the audience in.”
There were also sarcastic reactions targeting the widespread perception that Rosé is the best singer in BLACKPINK.
Indian publication The Times of India also published a separate report on the online criticism surrounding Rosé’s performance on the 8th.
However, others defended Rose’s vocal abilities, pointing instead to problems with the arrangement and sound mixing.
One user commented, “This song isn't meant to be performed with just a guitar. Removing certain instruments completely changes the feel of the song.”
Another argued, “Her voice is mixed way too loudly compared to the instruments. The sound engineer needs to adjust it.”
Meanwhile, another song Rose performed at the same event received positive reviews from American music publications.
On the 9th, Billboard praised Rose’s performance of “Read My Mind” by rock band The Killers, saying that “her live vocals sounded more powerful than ever and she conveyed the emotion of the song beautifully.”
Music publication Stereogum also praised her performance on the 10th, stating that “Rose did a great job with the song.” It also responded positively to her decision to choose another hit by The Killers rather than their signature track “Mr. Brightside.”
5 comments
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I think it's more of a timber issue than a voice color issue
Translated by pannchoa
She can't sing but calls herself a singer?
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Ever since I saw a comment mentioning that she sounds like Donald Duck’s voice, I can’t hear anything else but Donald Duck
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