BLACKPINK member Jennie is in the spotlight as she prepares for her comeback.

On September 19, Harper's Bazaar USA published an interview and photoshoot with Jennie, bringing renewed attention to the indoor smoking incident from July.

The magazine noted, "The private lives of K-pop idols are closely protected, with no room for dating or smoking. Given BLACKPINK's reputation, their actions can lead to controversy, which may affect fans' empathy." This highlights the pressure idols face beyond their music.

In response to the controversy, Jennie said, "What can I do? Koreans often try to make up for things they think are wrong. I understand why people are upset." She expressed her desire to see things from her fans' perspective.

The trouble began in July when Jennie posted a vlog from Italy on her YouTube channel. A clip of her smoking indoors while getting her makeup done sparked backlash, especially since staff were present.

As criticism grew, her agency, OA Entertainment, issued an apology: "We sincerely apologize to everyone who felt discomfort from Jennie's actions. Jennie understands the impact of smoking indoors and has reached out to apologize to the staff directly."

However, international reactions questioned the need for an official apology for indoor smoking. Outlets like CNN and BBC remarked on the intense scrutiny K-pop celebrities face and the strict moral standards expected of them.

Jennie also faced rumors regarding her fandom name and dating allegations. She sent a voice message saying, "Hello, Rubies. It's Jennie. Please watch over me; see you soon," leading fans to speculate that her personal fandom name might be "Rubies."

However, this raised concerns because it overlaps with singer Kwon Eun Bi's fandom name. Her agency clarified, "Rubies is the name of a news page for fans. It is not the official fandom name."

Additionally, rumors of a relationship with GOT7's BamBam surfaced after they were spotted dining together at a popular restaurant in Los Angeles. Photos taken by paparazzi fueled dating speculations.

The agency responded, "BamBam and Jennie are friends who had a meal together. The dating rumors are not true," adding that managers were present during their outing.

Amid these controversies, Jennie is set to make her solo comeback. This will be her first album in about a year since her special single "You & Me," released last October.

While she remains a part of BLACKPINK, this album marks a significant moment as it will be her first release after effectively leaving YG Entertainment.

Expectations are high!

Source: [1]

NewJeans' Minji touched fans' hearts with a handwritten letter on her birthday — even while the group is currently unable to promote due to legal issues.

On May 7, Minji celebrated her birthday by sharing a heartfelt message on the group’s personal SNS account, which the members opened themselves to stay connected with fans.

Minji began her letter with honesty, writing, “I think I’m living a busier life than I expected. When I finally looked up, it was already May, and it was my birthday.”

She admitted that she had a lot she wanted to say, but her thoughts felt “messy.” Still, her message to fans was clear, “I just hope that I, our members, and Bunnies can all be happy. Happiness is the biggest goal in my life.”

Minji then opened up about her personal journey and struggles, saying, “I sometimes think that running toward my happiness by doing what I love might look foolish to others. But isn’t giving up your happiness now for the sake of a future that might not even come… too harsh on yourself?”

Despite everything, she ended on a hopeful note, “I really miss the times when we shared our feelings through the good music we made together. But I always look forward to what’s ahead."

She added, "We didn’t stop here, and we’re not going to stop! It might look like we’re standing still, but I believe we’re growing deeper.”

Her message comes during a difficult time for NewJeans. The group announced last year that they were cutting ties with ADOR, their original agency, after trust was broken. They later began working independently under the new name ‘NJZ’.

However, ADOR responded with legal action — claiming the exclusive contract with NewJeans was still valid and asking the court to stop the group from promoting or signing deals.

The court sided with ADOR and granted an injunction, forcing NewJeans to pause their activities. Their appeal was rejected, and they’ve now filed a second appeal.

Through it all, Minji’s message proves one thing — even when forced to stop, NewJeans' hearts are still moving forward.

Source: [1]