Jennie, a member of the group BLACKPINK, has found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy after posting a video celebrating her birthday. Given her past history of officially apologizing for indoor smoking and secondhand smoke issues, concerns have been raised that the performance in this video evokes smoking, leading to heated discussions among netizens.
On January 16, Jennie celebrated her birthday by posting a video on her Instagram account. In the video, Jennie is seen receiving birthday candles from friends, putting one in her mouth, and lighting it with a torch. She then continues by placing the lit candle back on the cake and blowing it out.
This performance is one of the unique birthday celebration methods that have recently become popular among the younger generation on social media (SNS). However, some netizens expressed concern that the act of putting a candle in her mouth and lighting it strongly resembles a smoking scene. Criticism followed, especially considering the potential impact on teenagers as a globally influential artist, deeming it an inappropriate portrayal.
In online communities and SNS, there are negative reactions suggesting that someone in Jennie's position should be more cautious with every action, questioning whether she needed to engage in behavior that could lead to misunderstandings given her past indoor smoking controversy. Conversely, some argue that it is merely a trendy performance and that criticizing it with excessive standards is unreasonable, defending Jennie.
In July 2024, Jennie faced significant backlash when footage of her smoking an electronic cigarette while getting makeup done indoors during a shoot in Capri, Italy, was released. The scene captured her exhaling smoke towards the direction of the staff, leading to controversy over secondhand smoke, prompting Jennie's team to sincerely apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable.
As content that evokes smoking is shared again before the previous controversy is completely forgotten, public opinion remains cold and divided. This controversy is expected to continue for some time, caught between the freedom of expression as a global star and the social responsibility of being a public figure.
