BABYQUEEN, a AI girl group, faces backlash after announcing that one of its members was expecting a baby. One of the creators later clarified that the storyline was invented to make managing the group easier.
On 12 October, BABYQUEEN's management announced that Mity, an AI-generated idol, would temporarily suspend her activities to prepare for childbirth. A follow-up statement the next day, written from the character's perspective, reiterated that she would step away from the spotlight.
The announcement spread online for the strangeness of the situation. What sounded like a typical K-pop hiatus became an internet spectacle, as fans questioned why a fictional character needed a maternity break in the first place.
BABYQUEEN's Announcement Sends the Internet Into a Frenzy
BABYQUEEN is an AI-generated virtual Chinese girl group modeled after popular K-Pop groups around the world. Their appearance and public persona are controlled by the creators, and they do not have physical bodies.
Because of this, he announcement ended up making waves in social media . According to the South China Morning Post, the story attracted more than 78 million views on Chinese social media platform Weibo by 20 October.
@Dexerto https://t.co/YiVJvVOuEy
— Tommy Tomcat 🐈 | Vtoobah (@Tommy__Tomcat) October 22, 2026
@Dexerto First in my bloodline to read whatever the hell this is https://t.co/4LHoezqXXF
— BroadStBogWitch 🦅🦇🍉 (@youkaymelis) October 22, 2026
Reactions ranged from disbelief to outright mockery, with users questioning the logic of an AI idol going on maternity leave. The controversy also made people question the boundaries of AI storytelling, particularly when it involves human experiences such as pregnancy.
The Real Reason Mity Is Leaving the Group
BABYQUEEN's creators later admitted that Mity's storyline had been used to write her out of the group's active line-up. In a since-deleted post, the creators explained that managing multiple AI personalities had become overwhelming. The creators, who described themselves as students and K-pop fans, claimed they had experienced personal attacks and online harassment over the project.
They acknowledged the pressures behind the decision, explaining that managing the group had become difficult. Instead of simply announcing a hiatus or reducing the number of active members, however, they chose an elaborate personal narrative to explain Mity's departure. They also clarified that the project began as a hobby and had not generated income for them.
Was the Story Was Designed for Attention?
This might genuinely be one of the most unnecessary things I’ve ever come across on the internet. I’m honestly struggling to understand why anyone would think this was a good idea in the first place.
— Chikky (@chickyxime) October 22, 2026
The timing of the announcement also raised eyebrows. On the same day the news broke, BABYQUEEN's account shared a teaser for a new song featuring the remaining members. This caused social media users to speculate about whether the dramatic reveal was intended to draw attention to the group's music.
Regardless of this, the wider criticism focused on how the story was presented. Virtual idols often rely on carefully constructed personalities and fictional backstories to build fan communities.
BABYQUEEN's situation shows how that approach can backfire when a storyline touches on an experience with real social and personal significance. By framing Mity's supposed life change as a personal milestone, the creators borrowed the language of real celebrity announcements for a character who could not experience any of those things.
What's Next for BABYQUEEN's Mity?
Mity's departure might not mark the end of her virtual career. According to Sixth Tone, the group's parent account, BABYPVSSY Entertainment, suggested that she could explore other roles, including acting or becoming a maternity and infant content creator.
The possibility of a virtual idol pivoting from pop performances to motherhood content adds another surreal chapter to the saga. It also leaves open the question of whether the storyline will continue or eventually be written out altogether.
For now, BABYQUEEN's controversy highlights a challenge facing the expanding AI entertainment industry: creators can build digital personalities and invent elaborate celebrity narratives, but they cannot control how audiences respond to them.
Mity may be a fictional idol, but the backlash surrounding her supposed life event is very real. And if BABYQUEEN wanted to make people talk about its members, it certainly found an unconventional way to do it.
