BLACKPINK member Lisa has directly addressed a long-standing controversy surrounding leaked trainee-era footage that captured her using a racial slur.
Speaking out during promotional appearances and interviews for her feature documentary Always Lalisa- which held its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 11, 2026- the global pop star offered a direct apology to fans while shedding light on the internal management decisions that delayed her public response.
Direct Apology, Lack of Cultural Education, and Impact on Career Milestones
The controversy traces back to leaked archive footage showing members of BLACKPINK rapping along to songs containing the N-word during pre-debut evaluation sessions at YG Entertainment.
The clip resurfaced online after being released by an anonymous individual claiming to be a former agency employee, who also made public death threats against the artist.
The leak surfaced shortly before Lisa’s historic solo performance at Coachella in 2025, creating a high-pressure public relations crisis during what was intended to be a major career milestone.
Addressing the incident during an interview with Variety surrounding her documentary premiere,
Lisa expressed deep regret over the past footage and offered a sincere apology:
“I really have to apologize. 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.
Now I’ve learned and got educated about that, and I would never [do it again]. This is not OK. Seriously.”
Lisa also reflected on the emotional toll the leak and accompanying threats took on her mental state ahead of her major solo festival appearance. She shared:
“I was just sad because I really wanted to focus on my performance, but things happened, and you can’t control stuff. But I fought through it.”
Label Opposition and Divided Netizen Reactions
Beyond offering her personal apology, Lisa revealed key details regarding how her current representation sought to handle the crisis when the footage first surfaced online.
According to statements in the documentary, Lisa’s independent agency, LLOUD, actively intended to issue an official public statement and formal apology immediately following the leak.
However, former label YG Entertainment strongly opposed the decision, arguing that issuing a formal response would escalate media coverage and exacerbate security risks given the ongoing death threats.
The revelations surrounding YG Entertainment’s handling of the situation have sparked intense debate across online communities and social media platforms.
Fans and supporters expressed relief over her direct statement, commending her willingness to take personal accountability, acknowledge her past lack of awareness, and speak openly about agency constraints.
Conversely, critics and skeptical netizens questioned the timing of the explanation and debated whether agency opposition fully justifies the prolonged silence regarding the sensitive issue.
As Always Lalisa prepares for its global theatrical release in October 2026, Lisa’s candid remarks continue to generate widespread discussion on artist accountability, cultural awareness, and corporate crisis management within the K-pop industry.
