On September 19th, BLACKPINK’s Jennie grabbed headlines by gracing the cover of the October 2024 issue of Harper’s Bazaar US. The idol showcased a new and exclusive look while engaging in an interview where she discussed her career and personal experiences.
In her interview, Jennie addressed the recent smoking controversy publicly for the first time. She stated, “What can I do? If K-netizens think it’s wrong, then I have to make amends. It’s like… I understand why people are angry. It’s about culture, history. It’s about time. And I can’t fight against time.”
Jennie’s response sparked a significant uproar on social media. Many netizens expressed their outrage, accusing her of conveying a “I’m sorry because you think it’s wrong” mindset rather than taking full responsibility for her actions. Critics argued that apologizing for blowing smoke in someone’s face should simply be a matter of common courtesy, not framed as an issue of “culture, history, or time,” as Jennie suggested.
Conversely, some supporters defended Jennie, asserting that netizens were misinterpreting her comments and taking her words out of context. This controversy continues to be a hotly debated topic online.
The smoking incident first came to light on July 8th, when Jennie was seen in a vlog on her personal YouTube channel apparently engaging in vaping. While having her makeup done for the Jacquemus show in Italy, she was filmed inhaling from a suspicious object and then exhaling smoke directly towards the makeup staff.
This moment quickly went viral across social platforms. In a bid to calm the backlash, Jennie’s team later removed the footage from the vlog, but the controversy continued to gain traction. The rising outrage resulted in intense criticism towards Jennie, leading to possible penalties, backlash from Korean media, and accusations of “abusing her power.” Her management disclosed that Jennie had offered a personal apology to the affected staff members and was reflecting on her conduct, yet this has not alleviated public discontent.
Source: K14
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