The highly anticipated Saja Boys special stage—drawn from the upcoming Netflix animation K-pop Demon Hunters—has been officially canceled at the 2025 MAMA Awards following the devastating apartment fire in Hong Kong earlier this week.
The performance was set to bring together some of the industry’s rising stars: BOYNEXTDOOR’s Lee Han, RIIZE’s Wonbin, TWS’ Shinyu, and ZEROBASEONE’s Park Gunwook and Han Yujin, forming the fictional in-universe group Saja Boys. Their stage, built around a dark “grim reaper” concept, was one of the most talked-about collaborations scheduled for Day 2 of MAMA.
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However, on November 29, both KOZ Entertainment and PLEDIS Entertainment announced through official statements that their artists would not participate due to MAMA’s decision to operate the event in a scaled-back format. The organizers adjusted the show in response to the tragic Hong Kong Tai Po apartment fire, which has so far claimed at least 128 lives, leaving dozens more injured or unidentified.
A Shift in Tone Amid National Mourning
MAMA organizers shared earlier this week that the ceremony would proceed, but with changes aimed at respecting the local atmosphere of grief. This included the removal of pyrotechnics, flame effects, and any performances that could appear insensitive in light of the tragedy.
As a result, the visually intense “afterlife” concept of the Saja Boys stage was deemed inappropriate to present, leading to its full cancellation. Several collaboration stages were also removed, and some K-pop groups altered their setlists to avoid songs referencing fire or destructive imagery.
During Chapter 1 of the awards on November 28, host Park Bo-gum opened the show with a moment of silence. Veteran Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat, originally scheduled to appear as a presenter, withdrew in mourning. The atmosphere throughout the ceremony reflected a deliberate shift toward comfort and solidarity rather than spectacle.
While the Saja Boys stage will not go forward, K-pop Demon Hunters fans will still see representation on the MAMA stage: the project’s second fictional group, Huntrix, will perform as planned. BabyMonster members Pharita, Ahyeon, and Rora are set to take part in the special “GOLDEN” stage.
Meanwhile, Chapter 2 continues this evening at the Kai Tak Stadium, featuring performances by aespa, Stray Kids, RIIZE, TXT, G-Dragon, JO1, and more, with actress Kim Hye-soo hosting.
The cancellation of Saja Boys’ performance has sparked disappointment among fans who were eager to see the rare multi-group collaboration, but many have also expressed understanding and support given the scale of Hong Kong’s national tragedy.