The global K-pop phenomenon BLACKPINK has unexpectedly been thrust into the eye of a stormy controversy, as an old video purportedly capturing three of its members – Rosé, Jennie, and Lisa – muttering the N-word resurfaced on the internet, stirring a hornet's nest of online reaction. The footage, reportedly from their pre-debut audition tapes, has sparked a wave of indignation, with netizens hotly debating the cultural tone-deafness displayed by K-pop idols and the industry's exploitative use of Black culture.
The viral clip spread like wildfire across social media platforms, especially on X, igniting passionate discussions on racial insensitivity within the K-pop sphere. A faction of the group's ardent fans came to their defense, contending that the Korean and Thai members might not have grasped the historical significance of the offensive term. However, this argument was swiftly countered by critics who pointed out that Rosé, who grew up in Australia, and Jennie, who studied in New Zealand, should have been acutely aware of its implications.
"This is precisely why I can't stand K-pop. They revile Black people while voraciously consuming our culture," one user lamented, while another added fuel to the fire, "Couldn't two of them speak English fluently and understand its nuances? It seems like 3/4 of them took their moniker BLACKPINK a bit too literally." Even rapper Azealia Banks couldn't resist taking a swipe, reacting to the clip with a mocking, "I'm sorry, but this is hilariously ironic!"
The roots of this controversy trace back to a series of leaks orchestrated by an enigmatic figure operating under the moniker "YG Leaker." This self-proclaimed former YG Entertainment employee has been dishing dirt on the K-pop industry on Discord, claiming to possess a treasure trove of confidential data capable of exposing major entertainment giants, including YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment, HYBE Labels, and JYP Entertainment.
Despite the tempestuous outcry, skepticism persists among K-pop enthusiasts. Many conspiracy theorists believe that these leaks are part of a broader scheme, speculating that the BLACKPINK scandal is merely a diversion tactics to shift focus away from other simmering controversies within the industry. "This entire saga feels too conveniently timed. Kim Soo-hyun's press conference was scheduled for today, and out of the blue, a BLACKPINK scandal pops up?" a skeptical netizen pondered, referencing the legal woes of a prominent South Korean actor.
