Latest Updates on Lisa: What’s Happening?

For nine years, fans have admired Lisa of BLACKPINK, often perceiving her as a doll-like figure with exceptional stage prowess. As one of the few Thai idols to debut under YG Entertainment—a leading force in the South Korean entertainment industry—Lisa has emerged as a prominent member of BLACKPINK, showcasing undeniable talent and a steadfast work ethic. During her early days, she faced numerous hurdles as a foreign idol, including language challenges and the prevalent discrimination against Southeast Asian idols in Korea.

Despite these obstacles, her perseverance paid off as she enjoyed remarkable success alongside BLACKPINK. The young idol transformed into BLACKPINK’s most recognizable member, amassing over 100 million followers on Instagram and breaking numerous music records along the way.

At the close of 2023, a significant announcement came: BLACKPINK renewed their contract with YG Entertainment. However, all four members opted to conclude their exclusive management agreements, paving their own paths in their solo careers. Lisa took on the initiative by establishing her own company, LLOUD, and partnered with the international record label RCA Records. This new direction opened a plethora of opportunities, encompassing realms beyond music, including fashion and film. Additionally, reports suggest Lisa is in a relationship with Frédéric Arnault, the heir to luxury conglomerate LVMH. Lisa has evolved from merely being a K-pop idol; she is passionately crafting her identity as a global superstar.

On February 28, 2025, Lisa marked a pivotal moment in her career by releasing her debut full album, “Alter Ego”, alongside the music video for “FUTW.” This album, which Lisa meticulously crafted over a year, boasts collaborations with five global artists: Future, Rosalía, Doja Cat, Raye, and Tyla. Featuring 15 diverse tracks and five innovative concepts, “Alter Ego” represented a bold leap for Lisa. Preceding its launch, she made headlines as the first K-pop female soloist to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify with just four pre-release singles—”ROCKSTAR, ” “New Woman, ” “Moonlit Floor, ” and “Born Again” —offering fans both musical and visual innovation.

However, reactions following the album’s release were mixed. Once celebrated for her every endeavor, Lisa now faced intense scrutiny, provoking inquiries about the apparent decline in public favor towards her.

Declining Achievements, Continuous Controversies

With “Alter Ego” launched, eyes turned to its performance on the charts. Within a mere 24 hours, the music video for “FUTW” amassed 7 million views, and the track “Fxck Up The World” recorded over 4.5 million streams. Overall, the full album racked up over 23 million streams on Spotify. While these figures are commendable for a K-pop artist, they indicate a noticeable decline compared to her previous successes.

In South Korea, however, it was a different tale—”Alter Ego” failed to find a place on the Korean digital charts. In terms of sales, the album sold just over 30, 000 copies on the Hanteo chart during its first day, registering only one additional copy on the following day. Fans explained that the album was distributed through her own website, but given her elite status as a K-pop star, these sales numbers raised eyebrows.

Breaking 🚨 #LISA copied JURIN of XG whole outfit and look for her MV! She’s so shameless & getting way with it cuz XG isn’t that popular! pic.twitter.com/6VJ5bBN0EU

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—.(@KPOP_FLOP_) March 2, 2025

Recently, Lisa’s “FUTW” music video ignited plagiarism allegations concerning the girl group XG. Comparisons were drawn between Lisa’s flow in “FUTW” and XG’s hit “Woke Up, ” while her warrior look was likened to that of XG’s Jurin. Supporters defended Lisa, stating that both songs belonged to the hip-hop genre, where overlapping flows might occur, thus finding the plagiarism claims unfounded. The styling too, depicting a rebellious female antagonist, was seen as a common trope in the industry. Critics’ unwavering scrutiny was perceived by many as baseless nitpicking.

Furthermore, the album features 18+ lyrics and diss tracks targeting detractors, sparking various reactions. While her fans embraced these elements, general audiences felt Lisa’s execution fell flat.

Lisa sadness and disappointment over her album being leaked

In her track “FUTW, ” Lisa rapped, “They want the old Lisa, then listen to my old shit, ” indicating her departure from the K-pop idol persona. Nevertheless, critics pointed out that her past discography only comprises two solo tracks under YG, arguing that such a proclamation was premature. Some suggested that before addressing the world, Lisa should bolster her catalog with consistency and quality.

Lisa’s attempt to embody a darker character with her fifth alter ego, “Vixi, ” faced criticism as well. Vixi was designed to represent the rebellious youth often overlooked by society, but the portrayal came off as superficial. Critics likened the concept to the dated “emo” aesthetic of the early 2000s—characterized by dark attire and exaggerated styles intended as social rebellion. Many felt that this persona lacked substance and relied heavily on aesthetic appeal.

Compounding the controversy, questions were raised about Lisa’s authenticity towards her fanbase after the limited-edition signed CDs and vinyl editions of “Alter Ego” were released. There were suspicions that she may have utilized an auto pen for signatures, which, if true, would be a scandalous revelation. Fans expressed feelings of betrayal, leading many to request refunds from her company.

Reviving Her Popularity in China

During the years 2020 to 2021, Lisa stood as BLACKPINK’s most favored member in China, with her enthusiastic fans backing extravagant promotional projects. However, over the past five years, her popularity has dwindled, exacerbated by a “soft ban” and restrictions on her Weibo account in late 2023.

Upon its release, “Alter Ego” sold a disappointing 55, 000 digital copies in China—a stark contrast to fellow members Jisoo and Rosé, whose albums achieved 150, 000 and 200, 000 copies sold within mere hours, respectively. Such dismal sales figures prompted speculations of Lisa being “ignored” in the market.

Earlier, Lisa stirred up controversy amid Asian audiences by wishing fans a “Happy Chinese New Year”during a livestream. Given the significance of Lunar New Year in Korea and Vietnam, this misstep attracted mixed reactions, speculated by many as a tactic to reinvigorate her Chinese fanbase amidst a decline.

On March 2, Lisa marked a historic moment as the first K-pop star to perform at the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars).On the red carpet, she turned heads in a tuxedo designed by renowned Chinese designer Markgong.

In a bid to regain her standing in the industry, Lisa returned to idol survival shows as a guest mentor on “Chuang Asia 2025”, her first appearance in this format since “Youth With You 2”, which initially solidified her fame in China. The show, filmed in Thailand and streamed outside of China, features an all-K-pop mentor lineup, suggesting a strategic move by Lisa to reclaim her former glory.

Critiques from Industry Experts

Through her album “Alter Ego, ” Lisa aimed to penetrate the U. S.market, as underscored by her English-exclusive tracklist and international collaborations. However, critics have been largely unimpressed. In 2024, Lisa submitted six nominations for her songs “ROCKSTAR” and “New Woman (ft. Rosalía)” but saw no success.

Leading music outlets provided lukewarm reviews of “Alter Ego.” The Guardian rated the album a mere 2 stars, arguing that Lisa demonstrated a lack of originality and personal narrative in her work. The critique stated, “She is fond of name-checking brands and flexing her wealth, but it never feels intimate or distinctive. Lyrics like ‘That’s money / That’s motherf***in’ money’ from ‘Rapunzel’ appear as uninspired echoes of Miley Cyrus’ earlier hip-hop aesthetic.”

NME offered a slightly better rating of 3 stars, but still described “Alter Ego” as a fragmented and experimental project that fails to articulate Lisa’s artistic vision distinctly from her past with BLACKPINK. Furthermore, critiques highlight how her collaborative efforts overshadow her individual contributions.

While Lisa aspires to detach from the K-pop framework, her debut full album does not seem to encapsulate this ambition. The Times criticized “Alter Ego” as a collection of sounds engineered for viral appeal, catering to fans who idolize perfection—characteristics typical of the K-pop phenomenon. Though Rolling Stone gave a more favorable review, it echoed sentiments of inconsistency within the album.

What Went Wrong?

There’s no denying Lisa’s prolific activity in her initial foray outside of YG, boldly reshaping her persona and exploring new horizons. From her solo performances at the 2024 VMAs and Oscars 2025 to her upcoming Coachella appearance, her achievements at just 27 are commendable.

However, Lisa appears to be losing traction with her previous levels of success, mainly across Asia. A critical turning point for her was her controversial performance at Crazy Horse in September 2023, which resulted in a blacklist in China, the deactivation of a significant portion of her fanbase, and dwindling support within South Korea. This performance was seen as a major setback.

Moreover, Lisa’s image metamorphosis has been rapid. Transitioning from the beloved “living doll” aesthetic to embracing daring and risqué fashions, she captures attention yet walks a fine line between enticing and controversial. This swift transformation has left many fans feeling disconnected, or even shocked.

Although Lisa’s path to the U. S.market is glittered with possibilities, she faces backlash against apparent gaps in her artistry. While her dancing and rapping were respected in BLACKPINK, these attributes alone will not suffice to establish her as a solo pop sensation. Throughout her performances at major events, including the VMAs and Oscars 2025, she has faced accusations of lip-syncing. Critics assert that her vocal capacity does not stand out, often relying on backing tracks to conceal her vocal weaknesses. Media outlets have labeled her as the “lip-sync queen, ” with Entertainment Weekly categorizing her Oscars performance as one of the event’s lowest points.

These perceived skill deficiencies transform her high-profile opportunities into fodder for criticism. Many speculate she benefits from nepotism due to her billionaire boyfriend’s connections, given that her talents do not seem to align with the scale of her opportunities. In the fiercely competitive U. S.music scene, success achieved through apparent favoritism often results in a hostile reception. Consequently, Lisa garners even harsher critique when her performances do not meet the audience’s expectations.

Although Lisa remains a global sensation, continuously reaching new heights in her independent career, her public visibility and credibility appear to be diminishing. Fans remain hopeful for a resurgence in popularity for BLACKPINK’s youngest member, yearning for her to once again showcase her star power. To secure her future, Lisa must invest in refining her artistic skills. As for her music, only by upholding high-quality standards can she truly win over fans and critics alike.

Looking ahead, in July, BLACKPINK will reunite for a worldwide tour—an invaluable opportunity for the members to reconnect with their fans and shine collectively once more.

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