'Waterbomb Sexuality Controversy' BIBI: "I Think I Have to Earn My Money' - Heated Debate Over Performance Philosophy

Singer BIBI / Yonhap News [Financial News] Singer BIBI, who was recently embroiled in a controversy over provocative content on the 'Waterbomb' stage, revealed her performance philosophy.
On the SBS variety show 'I'll Do Anything for You - Secretary Team,' which aired on the 28th, the behind-the-scenes story of BIBI's performance, which ranked first in buzz at '2026 Waterbomb,' was revealed.
On this day, Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu visited the Waterbomb site and joined BIBI in her performance preparation process.
Appearing as 'my star,' BIBI continuously stretched to wake up her stiff body ahead of the performance. In particular, she revealed the pressure of the stage by showing signs of nervousness, even to the point of her hands trembling.
During this process, Bibi shared her philosophy on performing, stating, "I believe I have to earn my money's worth. I must unconditionally entertain the people who paid to come in.
" She continued by confessing, "I prepared for three months thinking this might be my last. I am very nervous today," conveying the effort and passion she poured into this single performance.
After taking the main stage, Bibi presented a provocative performance, including kneeling and unzipping her wet jumpsuit to reveal her bikini top, which drew an enthusiastic reaction from the audience.
However, following the performance, a controversy regarding the level of sexual suggestiveness arose online. Amidst opinions that the special nature of the event being rated 19+ should be taken into account, opposing criticisms that the stage production was excessively provocative sparked heated debate.
This is not the first time Bibi's unconventional stage performance has become a hot topic. At the same event in 2022, a situation occurred where her bikini strap came undone during a performance, nearly exposing her body, and at another performance, she garnered attention for a performance where she kissed an audience member.
Amidst this, netizens' reactions were mixed as Bibi’s philosophy—that she "must earn her keep"—which she revealed while preparing for the show, was belatedly disclosed. While some responded with comments such as, "It is nice to see her being sincere on stage," and "Why should she be criticized for showing the audience a memorable performance?", others argued, "Earning her keep is a separate issue from provocative performances," and "What does ticket price have to do with the level of exposure?"

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