BLACKPINK’s Jennie Draws Criticism For Cultural Appropriation

Fans aren’t happy about this.

BLACKPINK‘s Jennie is the subject of a heated controversy regarding cultural appropriation.

The latest episode of BLACKPINK DIARIES, EP.7, features behind-the-scenes footage of the music video for BLACKPINK’s latest single, “Kill This Love”.

Jennie and Rosé are seen dancing with each other and laughing. They are subsequently joined by Lisa and Jisoo.

You can watch the full scene below, which happens around the 10.00 minute mark in BLACKPINK DIARIES EP 7.

Fans are up in arms over the cultural appropriation displayed by the members of BLACKPINK, and the lack of respect they showed to Indian culture. Fans are particularly angry at how lightly the girls took a respectful and sacred dance.

The dance in question is the Bharatnatyam, a major genre of Indian classical dance that expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas. It is widely recognised as a sacred dance, and the “mother of Indian dance”.

This isn’t the first time that BLACKPINK has come under fire for cultural appropriation. They received flak for their styling in the music video for  “Kill This Love”, where many members had culturally insensitive hairstyles and makeup.

Lisa with box braids, a hairstyle deeply rooted in African culture.

Fans are understandably up in arms, and have been demanding an explanation from YG Entertainment and BLACKPINK themselves. YG Entertainment and BLACKPINK have yet to make a statement about their actions.

Source: Cultural India and Hype Malaysia

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