In light of BLACKPINK Jennie’s recent indoor smoking controversy in Italy, a former entertainment news reporter has stepped forward to discuss the prevalence of vaping among idols.
On July 10, Lee Jin Ho, a former entertainment reporter who now runs a popular YouTube channel, gained attention for his video exposing a lesser-known side of the Korean entertainment industry, in light of the controversy surrounding Jennie’s indoor e-cigarette smoking.
The dispute erupted when Jennie uploaded a vlog on her YouTube channel, chronicling her experiences at the Jacquemus fashion show in Capri, Italy. Internet users observed the BLACKPINK singer using an e-cigarette, commonly referred to as a vape, while having her makeup done.
Jennie smoking Vape 💨 in her vlog pic.twitter.com/yi3DH8DsQW
— no na (@nona15648321) July 8, 2024
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It was the fact that Jennie was smoking in a confined room and deliberately blowing smoke into the faces of the staff that caused anger among many.
In response to public pressure, Jennie’s independently-owned agency, ODD ATELIER, issued a statement acknowledging her error. They assured that there would be no repeat occurrences and that Jennie was actively reflecting on the incident.
Hello. This is OA Entertainment. We would like to sincerely apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable with Jennie’s behavior in the content released on the 2nd. Jennie is also reflecting on the fact that she smoked indoors and caused harm to other staff members as a result, and she has contacted the staff members who were there at the time directly… pic.twitter.com/pAQnXOBg19
— OA (@oddatelier) July 9, 2024
Despite Jennie’s case, Lee Jin Ho pointed out that this is a common occurrence in the entertainment industry. Many celebrities resort to smoking vapes and applying make-up during photoshoots as a means of relieving stress. This is particularly prevalent if they have been on a strict diet leading up to the shoot, making them more vulnerable to stress. The staff members have come to accept this as a norm, prioritizing the calmness of the celebrity over their stress levels.
“According to staff on the scene, many celebrities smoke e-cigarettes during photo shoots or while applying makeup, not just Jennie. That’s an unwritten rule in the industry. Celebrities often don’t eat for days before photo shoots, making them extremely sensitive on set. For celebrities, e-cigarettes are almost the only way to relieve stress. This is often accepted by the staff because they think it’s better for the star to smoke e-cigarettes than to get angry on set.
Lee Jin Ho, a former reporter, explained the rationale behind celebrities’ preference for smoking indoors rather than in public. According to him, smoking in public could potentially harm the image of these celebrities as they could be spotted by others. As a result, some companies even promote indoor smoking.
Lee emphasized the hierarchical dynamic between celebrities and employees, asking, “How many workers have the authority to instruct a celebrity not to smoke while filming?”
Despite the widespread attention and heated discussions sparked by Lee Jin Ho’s video, the majority of comments expressed disappointment towards the idol’s behavior. However, there were also some who empathized with the staff’s hesitation to speak up in such an environment.
Several netizens commented,
- “I am very disappointed because she used e-cigarettes in front of the staff. E-cigarettes are no different from cigarettes.”
- “I really don’t believe in the image that celebrities build.”
- “Whether men or women, celebrities or ordinary people, behaving rudely when being with someone else makes them deserve criticism.”
- “I don’t care if that’s an unwritten rule between idols or not. If they want to smoke indoors, they can find a secluded place or a spot without people around them. Employees are just trying to do their jobs. Due to the difference in rank, I don’t think they can raise their voice and tell them to stop. Those makeup artists may be having health problems or could even be pregnant. How can she blow smoke in their faces?”
- “She paid them so they can’t tell her she can’t vape inside. They risk losing their job to another employee or makeup artist.”
- “The simple truth is that they should go to designated smoking areas outside. Smoking and vaping are not the same, but that’s not important. Basically, indoor smoking is prohibited in enclosed areas.”
Please share your thoughts on the situation in the comments section below.
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