MEOVV Ella’s Viral Fansign Clip Sparks Fury Over Idol-Only Favoritism

A brief moment at a fansign has sparked controversy for MEOVV‘s 17-year-old idol Ella, once dubbed the “world’s most beautiful child model.” Now under THE BLACK LABEL and produced by Teddy, Ella is facing claims of being cold-shouldered during a promotional event—prompting debate over possible bias and discrimination within the K-pop fandom.

On May 17, a viral video showed MEOVV’s Narin offering Ella cat ear props during a fansign, trying to help as Ella had received noticeably fewer gifts.

However, the moment turned awkward when a manager intervened, stopping the gesture over concerns that sharing fan gifts could cause misunderstandings or backlash within the fandom.

According to attendee accounts, most fans present were from China, where Ella reportedly has less local traction than her bandmates. Some fans speculated that her multicultural background—being of Korean, American, and German descent—might be a factor in why she appeared to be treated differently.

Still, data tells a different story. Despite the viral clip, her Chinese fanpage ranks third among MEOVV members, and fan gift counts show only slight differences: Sooin and Gawon received 5 gifts, Anna and Narin 4, and Ella 3. Critics argue the viral moment may have been overblown without full context.

Nevertheless, the incident has sparked broader conversations, reminding fans of similar past situations where idols like Bahiyyih (Kep1er) and Lily (NMIXX) were also seen receiving no gifts during fansigns—both of whom, like Ella, are mixed-race idols.

Ella, a former global child model known for her striking visuals and ties to BLACKPINK, debuted with MEOVV in early 2024.

The group recently made a comeback with their EP MY EYES OPEN VVIDE, featuring standout tracks HANDS UP and DROP TOP. MEOVV has earned praise for both their visuals and live vocals, cementing their status as rising stars in the competitive K-pop scene.