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]

BTS member Jin is taking the world by storm with his hit song Running Wild.

Released on November 15, Running Wild is the title track from Jin's first solo album, Happy. The song blends a fresh new wave sound with British rock influences and pop rock elements, catching the attention of fans worldwide.

On November 21, Running Wild reached the top spot on Spotify Japan's Daily Top Songs chart, showing its massive popularity.

It also ranked No. 2 on the Spotify Top Songs chart in Korea and No. 6 globally, proving its broad appeal.

Jin’s solo album Happy has also been a huge success. It sold over 219,000 copies on its first day, making it the third-highest album sales for a K-pop solo artist in Oricon Weekly Album Chart history.

In just three days, Happy reached No. 1 on the Hanteo Country-by-Country Chart in Japan for the third week of November, solidifying Jin's status as a top global artist.

Source: [1]