Backlash hit BABYQUEEN after the Chinese artificial intelligence pop act used a fake pregnancy storyline to explain one member's exit, then admitted the "maternity leave" was invented to reduce the number of characters on the virtual team.
For some fans, the move seemed to use pregnancy as a cheap content gimmick.
Here's what to know
Earlier this month, the fictional agency behind AI pop act BABYQUEEN said member Mity would halt group activities for maternity leave. The group itself had debuted in September as a five-member virtual act, and the announcement said Mity needed to prioritize her "health" and prepare for childbirth.
On Oct. 13, an account attributed to character Mity perpetuated the pregnancy storyline and shared an image of the avatar resting in bed in pink pajamas.
The South China Morning Post reported that the topic drew more than 78 million views on social media platform Weibo.
According to Sixth Tone, the response reflected a mix of anger and mockery. Some critics said using pregnancy as promotion diminished reproductive health experiences, while others joked about the plot and questioned who the fictional father was supposed to be.
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In a since-deleted post highlighted by entertainment news outlet Dexerto, BABYQUEEN creators said they had come up with the maternity leave storyline as a way to manage their real-life workloads.
More background
BABYQUEEN may be fictional, but the response was real, and the creators' moves underscored how easily AI-driven characters can be used to manufacture drama that alienates actual audiences.
The episode is another sign that AI is not only reshaping workplaces and search engines — it is also changing entertainment in ways that can feel detached from human experience.
AI systems are also closely tied to the energy grid because they depend on computing infrastructure that consumes large amounts of electricity and water.
In a case like this BABYQUEEN news, the technology's cultural applications can seem trivial to some and frustrating to others, while the underlying tools raise concerns about resource use, security, and unintended social consequences.
What's being done?
After backlash on social media, the people behind BABYQUEEN, as Trending on Weibo reported, said their explanation for Mity's departure had been inappropriate.
Their apparent fix has reportedly been to ease the workload that fostered the problem. Instead of trying to keep five fictional personalities active at once, the team said the effort of managing multiple AI members had become exhausting, suggesting that a smaller active roster could be the immediate answer.
They also said they had been harassed and that the project had earned no money. Rather than stand by the pregnancy plot as a creative choice, they framed it as a bad shortcut taken under pressure.
The creators described themselves this way, per Dexerto: "We're just a few girls who like K-Pop, and we're still students."
Where can I learn more?
Adding more context to the topic, these stories cover outrage over a virtual actress, fake news blunders, and broader concerns about AI's social costs:
• In Hollywood, a new AI actress sparked outrage after making disturbing comments online.
• At the Chicago Sun-Times, AI-generated fake news left staff publicly embarrassed.
• On Instagram, energy-sucking AI accounts fueled outrage over synthetic profiles and power use.
• ABC's Grey's Anatomy drew backlash among viewers after a scene praised AI.
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