Jennie of BLACKPINK issued a personal apology to fans Saturday over confusion surrounding the K-pop group’s 10th debut anniversary celebrations, days after backlash over a hastily announced, limited-attendance fan event forced the group’s agency to scramble and ultimately confirm that all four members would appear together.
Jennie posted her message through the fan communication platform Weverse on Aug. 8, the exact anniversary of BLACKPINK’s Aug. 8, 2016, debut. “Hello BLINK! It’s been 10 years since we debuted as BLACKPINK. This anniversary is a day filled with regret,” she wrote, using the name of the group’s fandom. She continued, “Over the past 10 years, as BLACKPINK and as Jennie, there have been many ups and downs, but I always wanted to show only the good sides and be someone who brings happiness during tough times. However, seeing BLINK upset weighs heavily on my heart.” She closed by writing, “I know many of you are hurt… but I hope there’s still a small place in your hearts for my sincerity.”
How the Controversy Began
The backlash traced back to YG Entertainment’s handling of the milestone anniversary. According to multiple Korean outlets, the agency remained largely silent in the lead-up to Aug. 8, with the only publicly announced anniversary activity being the release of a “Heritage Collection” merchandise line created in collaboration with the National Museum of Korea’s merchandise brand. As fan frustration mounted over the absence of any major celebration befitting a decade-long milestone, YG suddenly announced a “Meet & Greet” event late on the night of Aug. 6, just two days before the anniversary itself.
That announcement only intensified the controversy rather than calming it. The event notice specified that just 40 fans, selected by random lottery from those with active BLACKPINK Weverse memberships as of July 31, would be permitted to attend, with the specific time and location withheld and shared only privately with selected winners. Most notably, the notice stated that only “select members” would participate depending on their individual schedules, language that immediately raised concerns among fans that not all four members, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa, would actually appear together.
A Swift Backlash Online
The vague wording triggered significant criticism across social media and fan forums. One social media user, quoted in coverage of the backlash, wrote, “This is a petty last minute meet and greet to pretend they care. Sorry Blinks.” Fan commentary compiled from Korean forums included complaints that the milestone anniversary “shouldn’t cap at 40 people, but 40K people,” and that the rushed nature of the announcement made it feel as though the event had been thrown together purely in response to criticism rather than planned as a genuine celebration.
Adding further fuel to the controversy, a local outlet reported that member Lisa would not be attending the event at all, a claim that circulated widely before YG moved to formally deny it.
YG Confirms All Four Members Will Attend
Facing continued fan anger, YG Entertainment issued a follow-up statement on Aug. 7 clarifying that all four members would in fact participate. “After confirming with the label, we have confirmed that all four members of BLACKPINK (Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa) will attend the 10th-anniversary Meet & Greet,” the agency told the Korea JoongAng Daily. The statement specifically addressed and dismissed the earlier rumors, confirming that reports Rosé had been spotted in the United States and that Lisa would skip the event were both untrue. According to reporting on the situation, Rosé had specifically prioritized and cleared her schedule to attend the meet-and-greet.
Jisoo Also Apologizes
Jennie was not the only member to publicly address the controversy. Jisoo posted her own apology on Weverse, saying she felt “especially sorry” given the circumstances surrounding the anniversary. “Thank you for celebrating our 10th anniversary, and I’m sorry once again for causing you such disappointment,” she wrote, adding that she hoped fans would leave “a little room” for her sincerity despite their frustration.
A Complicated Structure Behind the Scenes
The confusion surrounding the anniversary reflects the increasingly complex business arrangement underlying BLACKPINK’s group activities. The four members’ individual exclusive contracts with YG Entertainment expired in 2023, and none of them renewed those individual deals, even as the group has continued to promote and perform together under YG’s oversight for group-specific activities. Jennie has since founded her own agency, Odd Atelier, Rosé signed with The Black Label, and Lisa established her own independent venture, meaning any group-wide event now requires coordination across multiple separate companies managing each member’s individual schedule, a structural reality that appears to have contributed directly to the anniversary planning difficulties.
The Event Itself
The confirmed Meet & Greet was scheduled to take place Saturday afternoon in Seoul, with the specific venue kept undisclosed publicly and shared only with the 40 randomly selected fan winners. Participants were required to have maintained active Weverse memberships through July 31 and to present valid government-issued photo identification to enter the event. Beyond the meet-and-greet itself, Weverse members received a commemorative anniversary badge marking the milestone.
A Decade of Global Success
BLACKPINK debuted on Aug. 8, 2016, with the single album “Square One,” featuring double title tracks “Whistle” and “Boombayah.” In the years since, the quartet has become one of the most commercially successful acts in K-pop history, breaking records across streaming platforms, album sales and global touring, and helping establish South Korean girl groups as a major force in international pop music.
With the meet-and-greet now confirmed to include all four members and both Jennie and Jisoo having issued public apologies addressing the controversy, attention now turns to how the event itself unfolds and whether YG Entertainment plans any additional anniversary activities beyond the merchandise collection and fan gathering already announced. For a group whose members now operate under four separate agencies, Saturday’s reunion offers a visible reminder that BLACKPINK’s identity as a unified act remains intact even as its members increasingly pursue distinct individual careers.
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