Blackpink’s Lisa’s apology over racial slur reignites debate
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Blackpink’s Lisa attends the red carpet for Always Lalisa at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, on Sept 11.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Blackpink’s Lisa apologised for using a racial slur in trainee footage, explaining she did not understand its meaning growing up in Thailand without related education.
- The leaked footage sparked online debate about cultural awareness and accountability, with some defending Lisa’s background and others insisting on responsibility due to her role and US market presence.
- Lisa’s career spans K-pop and the US market; her documentary Always Lalisa premieres Oct 12, highlighting her growth and ongoing challenges with cultural sensitivity in a global industry.
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SEOUL – Blackpink’s Lisa has apologised for using a racial slur against black people in leaked footage from her trainee years, saying she did not understand its meaning at the time – an explanation that has reignited debate online over how much cultural and linguistic context should factor into accountability.
Speaking to Variety at the Toronto International Film Festival, where her documentary Always Lalisa premiered on Sept 11, the Thai singer addressed footage showing her rapping along to songs containing the slur when she was a trainee at YG Entertainment.
“I really have to apologise,” said Lisa, 29. “To be honest, I’m Thai, and I grew up in Thailand. There isn’t any education for that, so at the time, I didn’t know.”
She added that she has since educated herself about the term and would never use it again.
The footage surfaced online in March 2025 after being leaked from K-pop girl group Blackpink’s pre-debut years by an individual described in the documentary as the “YG Leaker”. According to Variety, the same individual also made death threats against Lisa for the footage.
Lisa’s explanation, which went public on Sept 14, has since drawn reactions online. Some fans said her background growing up outside the US should be taken into account when judging the incident. “People have to realise that not the rest of the world learns about American history,” one user wrote on X. “People should explain to these artistes why the term is offensive instead of tearing them all to pieces on the spot.”
Another user wrote: “As an Asian throughout primary school and high school, I was never aware of the existence of the N-word until I got more active on the internet.”
A user who grew up in Thailand similarly wrote that “you wouldn’t know about the N-word” unless someone was exposed to online discussions about it.
However, others argued that Lisa’s role as Blackpink’s rapper, coupled with K-pop’s growing presence in the US market, gave her a greater responsibility to understand the cultural history of hip-hop, a genre rooted in black American culture. “The least one can do if they’re profiting off black culture is learn the history,” wrote the user.
Another user dismissed her explanation more bluntly. “‘English isn’t my first language’ – this excuse works every time.”
The disagreement between fans reflects a broader debate that has repeatedly surfaced around K-pop’s use of black American music and culture. Hip-hop and R&B have long influenced K-pop, while controversies involving language, hairstyles and imagery associated with black culture have periodically raised questions over cultural awareness and responsibility among artistes working in an increasingly global industry.
Lisa moved from Thailand to South Korea at 14 after joining YG Entertainment and spent around five years as a trainee before debuting with Blackpink in 2016.
Her career has since expanded further into the US market. After establishing her own company, Lloud, and signing with RCA Records for solo activities, she released her first full-length solo album Alter Ego, performed at music festival Coachella and made her acting debut in the third season of HBO series The White Lotus (2021 to present).
Always Lalisa, which chronicles Lisa’s transition into a more independent phase of her career, hits theatres on Oct 12. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK