Blackpink faces the heat as clips of them saying the 'N-word' racial slur gets leaked by former YG employee

K-pop sensation Blackpink is facing a huge backlash, as clips of them saying the N-word racial slur went viral. Pre-debut videos of three members - Rose, Jennie and Lisa—mumbling the slur while performing a song during their auditions spread like wildfire on X, triggering an uproar.

During the past weekend, the Korean pop music industry seemingly found itself embroiled in a major controversy after an individual, allegedly a former employee of YG Entertainment, came forward with threats to disclose confidential details pertaining to several top-tier agencies.

An anonymous user operating under the alias "YG Leaker" initiated a new channel on the social networking platform Discord. In their introductory message, they revealed a strong motive for their actions, stating, "I am doing all of this because I was terminated. I hold immense resentment towards the entire company. The workplace is plagued with harassment, discrimination based on race, and gender bias." This statement set the tone for the chatroom’s discussions, fueling curiosity and apprehension among onlookers.

The self-proclaimed "YG Leaker" further asserted possession of extensive amounts of data, allegedly amounting to multiple terabytes, which they claimed could substantiate serious accusations directed at prominent entertainment agencies. Besides specifically targeting YG Entertainment, the individual expanded their allegations to implicate other leading industry names, including SM Entertainment, HYBE Labels, Cube Entertainment, RBW and its affiliated entities, Blockberry Creative, JYP Entertainment, WM Entertainment, and Starship Entertainment.

Earlier, the leaker, who goes by the name Gurumi, grabbed attention by leaking photos of a romantic date between Jennie and BTS' V

Despite the gravity of these claims, skepticism within the expansive K-pop fandom remains prevalent. Many enthusiasts have dismissed the so-called leaks, likening them to the exaggerated rhetoric often seen on social media, particularly within dedicated K-pop fan communities. Critics argue that the nature of these threats appears to echo patterns commonly observed on fan-driven Twitter discussions.

Nonetheless, amidst the ongoing online discourse, one particular claim concerning BLACKPINK has gained significant traction, rapidly circulating across social media platforms. As discussions intensify and debates unfold, the veracity of the alleged insider’s claims remains uncertain, leaving the K-pop community in a state of suspense as they await further developments in this unfolding saga.

Netizens React

The leaked clips sparked a discussion on cultural insensitivity shown by K-pop idols and how Korean entertainment companies exploit Black people and other people of colour by stealing artistic influences without acknowledging them.

Reacting to the clip, popular African American rapper-singer Azealia Banks wrote, “I'm ........ so sorry this is fucking hilarious!”


While some argued that, the members being Korean and Thai, they were likely not aware of the history and cultural implications of saying the word, some netizens pointed out that two of the quartet were fluent in English, with Rose being born and brought up in New Zealand. “Wasn’t two of them bilingual and able to speak and understand English? 3/4 took the name BLACKPINK too seriously...” wrote one user.

“This is why I can never be a K-pop girlie. They all hate Black people so much yet they’re so inspired by our culture…” wrote another.

On the work front, Blackpink is gearing up for their 2025 world tour.