Performers and Staff Already On Site for Rehearsals
"Acutely Aware of the Situation... Reviewing Response Measures for Each Area"
An emergency situation has arisen for the "2025 MAMA Awards," CJ ENM’s major pop music awards ceremony scheduled to be held in Hong Kong.
According to the broadcasting industry on November 27, representatives from CJ ENM’s Mnet, production staff, and agencies for the performers are currently discussing whether to proceed with the ceremony, scale down the event, or alter stage productions in the aftermath of the fire disaster.
On this day, CJ ENM informed the performers’ teams that "we are acutely aware of the seriousness of the situation and are discussing response measures for each area," adding, "We will review and share updates on event operations, artist performances and award scripts, and official response plans as soon as they are finalized."
The fire broke out on November 26 at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district. According to the fire authorities, as of now, there have been 44 confirmed deaths, 279 missing persons, and around 40 seriously injured. The Hong Kong government has raised the fire alert to the highest level, Level 5, marking the first Level 5 alert in 17 years since the 2008 Mong Kok nightclub fire.
The disaster site is approximately 20 kilometers, or about a 20-minute drive, from Kai Tak Stadium, the venue for the "MAMA Awards." In the wake of the tragedy, events across Hong Kong have been suspended one after another. Campaign activities for the Legislative Council election scheduled for December 7 were immediately halted, and Chief Executive John Lee stated, "We will consider postponing the election." Hong Kong’s public broadcaster RTHK reported, "This could be the worst fire disaster since Hong Kong’s handover in 1997."
The "MAMA Awards" is one of the "six major mega-events for the second half of 2025" selected by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Backed by full support from the Hong Kong government and tourism board, the event was set to be held at the newly opened Kai Tak Stadium, with CJ ENM planning to host the awards ceremony and live global broadcast over two days, November 28 and 29. However, with the city’s mood dampened by the large-scale loss of life, the fate of the awards ceremony has become uncertain.
Even if the event proceeds, major adjustments to stage direction, award scripts, and side programs will be unavoidable. Discussions are underway to exclude certain performances, such as fire special effects and the "K-Pop Demon Hunters" grim reaper concept stage. It has also been reported that Hong Kong actors Chow Yun-fat and Tony Leung, who were scheduled to present awards, are now likely to withdraw from participation.
Most of the domestic staff and filming crews for the "MAMA Awards" have already arrived in Hong Kong and completed most of the preparations, including stage setup. Major K-pop groups such as Stray Kids, IVE, Tomorrow X Together (TXT), Enhypen, Zerobaseone, NCT Wish, Riize, and (G)I-DLE have also departed for Hong Kong one after another.
Local staff in Hong Kong commented, "The atmosphere is somber due to the severity of the fire’s damage." If the event is canceled, it would result in significant financial and physical losses; if it goes ahead, CJ ENM could face criticism for holding a music festival amid a disaster, making the decision a difficult one.
A broadcasting official stated, "We are closely monitoring the media and public opinion while proceeding with our internal schedule," and added, "As there have been no communicated changes, rehearsals and other preparations are continuing as planned." There are also discussions about adjusting attire and production to reflect the somber atmosphere. The official shared, "We urgently secured black outfits to match the subdued mood," and noted, "There are also discussions about switching the live broadcast to a pre-recorded format."
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