Fans Outraged Over Controversial Claims About BLACKPINK’s Jennie
A recent episode of the podcast Above The Influence has stirred up a wave of outrage among K-pop fans after a segment featuring troubling claims about female idols went viral, particularly relating to BLACKPINK’s Jennie.
In the episode, hosted by influencers Wootak and Kira, the conversation ventured into an array of sensitive topics, including alleged "dark practices" within the K-Pop industry. However, it was Wootak’s controversial anecdote about a friend, purportedly the son of a BMW heir, claiming to have had intimate relations with Jennie that ignited the most significant backlash. He further alleged that this friend had shared a video as "proof."
This claim has escalated tensions, with fans expressing their anger on social media platforms. The controversy intensified when the podcast’s official Instagram account released a statement clarifying that the discussed content was intended solely for paying subscribers and not meant for public consumption.
The statement emphasized,
"Before I get into it, please watch the full context of those clips that are being shared. These were uploaded to our BONUS CONTENT platform that requires a subscription. Someone has taken those clips and cut out context to paint us as malicious towards these women."
The apology further explained the hosts’ intention to shine a light on issues within the industry rather than defame Jennie, stating their distress over how even repeating such gossip could potentially harm her.
Wootak also took to Instagram to address the fallout, but his response was far from an outright apology. He remarked,
"All you K-pop stans freaking out, get your facts straight. I am not hating or attacking Jennie; I’m simply telling a story I heard. … You can do ten minutes of searching to find the same conspiracies about the K-Pop industry."
In a lighter moment, he joked about listening to Jennie’s solo track, “Like Jennie,” while reflecting on the uproar.
The whole incident has echoed the ongoing debate about the treatment of idols in the K-pop industry and raises further questions about the boundaries of discussion in entertainment media. As fans continue to voice their sentiments, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact Jennie’s reputation and the podcast’s future episodes.
Whether it will spark a larger conversation about accountability in the industry is a chapter yet to unfold.
