On July 1, aespa’s Winter appeared on the YouTube talk show Salon Drip 2, where she candidly recalled the unexpected moment during the Billboard Music Awards that went viral online.
Host Jang Do-yeon brought up the incident, saying, “There’s a video with your voice that’s basically been immortalized. What happened backstage at the Billboard Awards?”
Winter explained, “We were waiting in the dressing room for a long time, getting our hair and makeup done. My voice got hoarse, and I joked that it smelled like grilled meat because of the heat from the curling iron on hairspray.”
She added, “Later, Karina unnie told me, ‘Your voice was broadcasted,’ but I thought she meant my voice was hoarse, so I replied, ‘Was it? I didn’t know.’ But when our manager showed me the video fans were circulating, I was in shock.”
“I seriously thought it was a hidden camera prank,” Winter said, recalling her disbelief. “I kept wondering, ‘Did I say something weird? How far did it go?’ It turned out to be longer than I expected. It was terrifying.”
The clip featuring Winter casually humming “Whiplash” and chatting with her team was unintentionally picked up and shared, catching both fans and aespa off guard.
The incident has since become a lighthearted memory among fans, but for Winter, it was an unforgettable lesson in just how “live” backstage moments can truly be.