“Her apology was NOT sincere”- BLACKPINK's Jennie receives mixed reactions for addressing indoor vaping controversy and its ‘cultural’ impact

On September 19, 2024, the media outlet Harpers Bazaar shared an exclusive interview and pictorial featuring BLACKPINK's Jennie through their website. In the interview, the artist addressed the indoor vaping controversy and its cultural impact on Koreans, receiving mixed reactions from internet users.

For those unversed, on July 9, 204, Jennis's own agency, OA Entertainment, released a statement, apologizing for making everyone "uncomfortable" in the content published by the agency on July 2. The agency further stated she regretted her vaping mistake and subsequently, the "inconvenience" caused to the staff.

A vlog was uploaded on BLACKPINK's Jennie's YouTube channel on July 2, 2024, where the female artist was vaping indoors while getting her makeup done and blowing smoke towards the staff. Later, the video was deleted by the agency as the fandom raised concerns regarding the legitimacy and the concerns related to smoking.

During the interview, BLACKPINK's Jennie expressed her vaping controversy where she stated:

"What can I do? If Korean people think it's wrong, I've got to make up for it. It's like, I get why you guys are upset. It's cultural, it's history. It's time. And I can't go against time."

Subsequently, internet users broke into a debate about BLACKPINK's Jennie's response, and some concluded that her former apology regarding the vaping controversy was "not sincere." An X user tweeted:

"Her apology was NOT sincere"

Netizens shared harsh opinions on BLACKPINK's Jennie's latest response to the vaping controversy.

"Smoking indoors and disrespectfully blowing smoke in the staff's face isn't about culture; it's about basic decency, something she clearly lacks entirely," a fan reacted.

"girl, ily, but it's inconsiderate to the people around you no matter which country you are in," a fan shared.

"So, according to her, blowing smoke in people's faces is totally fine? She only apologized 'cause it's not a ' cultural thing' in Korea. Lol, classic behavior from someone like her with zero class," a fan commented.

On the other hand, many users openly showcased their support regarding BLACKPINK's Jennie's opinion. They believed that it was considerate of the female artist to accept the mistake and that everyone should move on.

"It’s good to accept the mistake and apologise, good on Jennie. Her attitude to tackle things is absolutely correct," a user reacted.

"koreans are doing too much ngl and are making a small issue a bigger one," a user shared.

"In other words, she called y’all annoying. Just as she should," a user mentioned.

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More about BLACKPINK's Jennie

Jennie Kim, aka Jennie, was born on January 16, 1996, in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, South Korea. The singer, actress, and rapper has been active in the industry since 2012 and associated with multiple agencies, including YG Entertainment, Interscope, Odd Atelier, and Columbia.

She debuted with BLACKPINK in August 2016 under YG Entertainment and released the single album Square One, featuring singles, including Whistle and Boombayah. The K-pop idol later established her own label, Odd Atelier, in 2023, after not signing an individual contract with YG Entertainment.

The female artist launched her website on September 19, 2024, accompanied by an audio message where she welcomed her fans as Rubies. However, her agency later rectified that her official fandom name was not Rubies.

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In recent news, Jennie signed a solo exclusive deal with Columbia Records on September 8, 2024.