Clips of K-pop sensation Blackpink members using the N-word, a racist slur, went viral, sparking a massive outcry
Now Rose, Jennie, and Lisa are being criticized.
An outcry was caused on X after pre-debut videos of three members of Blackpink namely Rose, Jennie, and Lisa mumbling the slur during a song during their auditions went viral.
Leaked video of BLACKPINK’s Rose, Jennie and Lisa using racist n-word slur while signing goes viral
The Korean pop music business including Blackpink appeared to be involved in a significant scandal over the weekend after a person who was supposedly a former employee of YG Entertainment came out threatening to reveal private information about other high-profile agencies.
BLACKPINK’s fans are filing copyright claims to make the videos disappear from the internet.pic.twitter.com/w4k3CxBUvs
— Pop Flop (@ThePopFlop) March 31, 2025
On the social networking site Discord, an anonymous user going by the handle “YG Leaker” created a new channel. They made clear a compelling reason for their actions in their introductory statement.
The person said, “I am doing all of this because I was terminated. I hold immense resentment towards the entire company. The workplace is plagued with harassment, discrimination based on race, and gender bias.”
Lisa (6) surpasses Jennie (5) as Blackpink member with most N word count. pic.twitter.com/FzBt20Xj4B
— Flop Kpop (@TheFlopKpop) March 31, 2025
Furthermore, the self-described “YG Leaker” claimed to have access to vast amounts of data allegedly several terabytes that may support grave charges against well-known entertainment companies. The person broadened their accusations beyond YG Entertainment to include other well-known names in the industry, such as SM Entertainment, HYBE Labels, Cube Entertainment, RBW, and its connected companies.
Even while these assertions are serious, there is still a lot of mistrust among the large K-pop audience. The alleged disclosures have been rejected by many fans, who have compared them to the hyperbolic discourse frequently found on social media, especially in devoted K-pop fan clubs. The nature of these threats, according to critics, seems to mirror trends frequently seen in fan-driven Twitter conversations.
Reactions of netizens
Discussions over K-pop singers’ cultural insensitivity and how Korean entertainment firms take advantage of Black people and other people of color by copying their artistic influences without giving credit were spurred by the leaked videos.
Reacting to the clip, popular African American rapper-singer Azealia Banks wrote, “I’m …….. so sorry this is fucking hilarious!”
Some netizens pointed out that two of the quartet were fluent in English, with Rose having been born and raised in New Zealand, while others contended that because the members were Korean and Thai, they probably did not understand the cultural connotations and history of the phrase.