G-Dragon’s Bizarre AI Ad Campaign Divides YouTube
A South Korean AI “superapp” has ignited a firestorm of criticism on YouTube, thanks to a new ad campaign fronted by BIGBANG’s G-Dragon. The ads are unusual, leading to both confusion and strong reactions from viewers.
The Controversial Ads
The ads star G-Dragon repeating, “This is an ad, this is an AI ad.”
His performance is true to form, with a quirky style. The ads cut off after only 15 seconds, giving little information about what the “wrtn” app actually does.
Even the 30-second version doesn’t provide more clarity, mostly showing G-Dragon moving the camera around, as if on a video call.
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“This is an AI ad. An ad. It’s an ad. It’s— It’s an advertisement for an AI. A, I. The name is… Not Louie, not Lee, but Wri-tten. I’m shooting this on my own because everyone else is busy. But this is an ad! Wrtn.”
— G-Dragon
In another version, also offered in 15- and 30-second segments, G-Dragon stresses the app’s name.
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“I only use this one. I like it. Wr-i. Written. To make that easier… What word starts with the sound wri-? Wrtn, wrtn, wrtn, wrtn, AI wrtn. Really.”
— G-Dragon
Negative Reactions and Confusion
These advertisements, launched on June 16, 2025, have garnered a range of scathing reviews from YouTube users. Some users have shared their confusion about what the ad is actually promoting. Others have criticized G-Dragon‘s actions in the advertisements.
- “I’m glad I’m not the only one who found this ad so weird.”
- “It’s such a strange ad—it just makes you feel off. I really don’t get what it’s trying to say.”
- “He sounds completely drunk…”
- “OK, it’s a wrtn ad, but like… So what? I seriously hate it.”
- “I really, really hate it.”
- “I’m a fan of G-Dragon but I hate this ad, LOL.”
- “What even is this ad? An ‘AI ad’… Ok, but what are we supposed to do with that?”
- “I was so annoyed by this, and now I know I’m not the only one LOL. It’s one of those ads that just makes you go, ‘What’s the point?’”
- “For real, it keeps popping up on YouTube and it’s so annoying, I can’t stand it. Makes me wonder if he’s drunk or something. The ad is just terrible.”
- “It’s honestly so bad. Feels like it’s not even G-Dragon, just some AI version of him.”
Unexpected Results
Despite the negative feedback, the wrtn app has seen a rise in popularity. Despite not ranking in the top 100 apps in 2024, wrtn is now at #39 in the Apple App Store and #21 on Android’s Google Play Store.
According to Statista, mobile app downloads hit 255 billion in 2022, a figure that continues to grow, indicating strong consumer interest in the app market (Statista 2023).
Marketing Campaign Details
The campaign, which launched on June 17, 2025, includes several phases, such as exclusive content and merchandise.
[#이벤트] G-DRAGON ‘뤼’레이 이벤트 📢
매일 쓰는 AI 뤼튼에서 만나는 G-DRAGON 🖌️
6월부터 8월까지 이어지는 릴레이에 지금 바로 탑승하세요!🔴 6월 open
G-DRAGON 미공개 컷 구독 💌⚪️ 7월 coming soon
G-DRAGON 굿즈 이벤트 🎁⚪ 8월 coming soon
G-DRAGON 포토카드 이벤트 📷 pic.twitter.com/peK8ncblrf— 뤼튼 (@wrtn_kr) June 17, 2025
This indicates that, while it is divisive, the wrtn campaign may have succeeded in gaining visibility for the superapp.
