Korean Netizens Defend BLACKPINK Amidst N-Word Controversy

Here’s what they had to say.

Recently, leaked predebut content allegedly featuring BLACKPINK has gone viral.

BLACKPINK

The clips feature the members’ predebut audition and evaluation tapes. However, they quickly gained attention for Jennie, Lisa, and Rosé‘s usage of the N-Word.

Creating set up accounts to divert the attention from this . https://t.co/v8eC77ArLy pic.twitter.com/wBLxr1QBlw

— ‏ ً (@jm_cherries) March 30, 2025

Particularly, international fans and news sources have shared their opinion on the issue.

Many have presented various opinions: Some believe that as English speakers, they are aware of the language they are using in cover songs and should have known better. Others, however, argue that as teenagers under great pressure from their company to debut, they were simply doing as they were told.

Most recently, Korean netizens have become aware of the videos through viral posts. Many shared that the hate was unfounded as the videos were not an official release, nor did the members write the lyrics.

• “So only Black people are allowed to sing songs with the N-word in them? It’s not like BLACKPINK wrote the lyrics themselves. People are just looking for a reason to hate.”
• “They’re getting a ton of backlash overseas for this, lol.”
• “If you’re going to criticize people for singing along, then why even make the song in the first place? Aren’t songs meant to be sung? . . . “
• “Is Jennie getting unnecessarily criticized again?”
• “It was a cover video filmed before their debut, not something YG officially released—it was leaked. Is it really fair to criticize them for this? Lol . . .”

| Nate Pann

YG Entertainment has not addressed the videos.

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