Blackpink under fire for offending Chinese fans

Blackpink, the popular K-pop girl group from South Korea, has been facing backlash from their Chinese fan base for several incidents that were perceived as disrespectful or insensitive to Chinese culture and sentiments.

The Macau tweet controversy

The first incident occurred in July 2023, when Blackpink’s official Twitter account posted a tweet addressing their Macau fans as ‘Macanese’ following a concert in Macau. This choice of terminology infuriated Chinese netizens, who saw it as culturally insensitive and politically incorrect. They argued that Macau is a special administrative region of China, and that its residents should be called ‘Chinese’ or ‘Macau Chinese’, not ‘Macanese’, which implies a separate identity or nationality.

Some fans demanded an apology from Blackpink and their agency, YG Entertainment, while others threatened to boycott the group or cancel their fan club memberships. The tweet was later deleted, but the damage was already done.

The Jennie attitude scandal

The second incident involved Jennie, one of the four members of Blackpink, who was accused of having a poor attitude and performance during a concert in Hong Kong in January 2023. According to Chinese netizens on Weibo, Jennie did not give her 100% during the Hong Kong concert stages. Netizens also highlighted that her attitude towards Chinese fans was poor. They claimed that she did not smile, wave, or interact with the audience, and that she looked bored and unhappy throughout the show.

Jennie’s official Instagram account was bombarded with negative comments and criticism from Chinese netizens, who called her lazy, rude, arrogant, and unprofessional. Some fans defended Jennie, saying that she might have been tired, sick, or stressed, while others expressed their disappointment and anger at her behavior.

The cultural appropriation accusation

The third incident involved the group’s alleged cultural appropriation of Hindu culture in a video clip from their online reality show ‘BLACKPINK DIARIES’. In the clip, which was aired in April 2019, the members were seen wearing bindis and henna tattoos while visiting a market in Thailand. Some fans and netizens took issue with the members’ behavior, saying that they were disrespecting and trivializing Hindu culture and religion by using them as fashion accessories or props.

Some fans pointed out that the members were ignorant and insensitive to the cultural significance and meaning of bindis and henna tattoos, which are sacred symbols and practices for Hindus. They also criticized the members for laughing and joking while wearing them, which showed a lack of respect and awareness. Some fans demanded an apology from Blackpink and YG Entertainment, while others urged them to educate themselves and be more careful in the future.

The aftermath and implications

These incidents have tarnished Blackpink’s image and reputation among their Chinese fan base, which is one of the largest and most loyal markets for K-pop. They have also sparked debates and discussions about cultural sensitivity, political correctness, and fan expectations in the globalized music industry.

Blackpink has not issued any official statement or apology regarding these incidents, nor has YG Entertainment. It is unclear how these controversies will affect the group’s future activities and popularity in China and other regions. However, it is evident that Blackpink needs to be more mindful and respectful of the diverse cultures and sentiments of their fans around the world, especially in times of heightened tensions and conflicts between countries.

What do you think of these incidents? Do you think Blackpink deserves the backlash or not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!