Blackpink’s Lisa Apologizes For Trainee-era Racial Slur

Lisa Says She Tried to Address Her Leaked Trainee Video Earlier

BLACKPINK’s Lisa has directly apologized for repeating an anti-Black racial slur in footage recorded during her trainee years.

The singer addressed the controversy in her documentary “Always Lalisa” and a new interview released around its Toronto International Film Festival premiere. Her comments also raised questions about why she did not respond publicly when the footage first circulated.

“I really have to apologize,” Lisa said. She added that she had since learned about the word’s meaning and would never use it again.

“This is not OK. Seriously,” she said. Her apology is straightforward. The circumstances surrounding her earlier silence are more complicated.

“This Is Not OK”: Lisa Addresses Her Trainee-Era Racial Slur / Sony Music Entertainment Korea

What Was Shown in the Leaked Trainee Video?

The controversy began with pre-debut evaluation footage recorded before BLACKPINK’s 2016 debut.

In the videos, Lisa and other future BLACKPINK members can be heard performing English-language rap songs containing the N-word. The performers repeated the original lyrics, including the racial slur.

The footage was recorded more than a decade ago but leaked online shortly before Lisa’s solo Coachella performance in 2025. Its release triggered widespread criticism and renewed debates over the use of anti-Black language in K-pop.

Lisa said she had recently moved from Thailand to South Korea when the performance was recorded. She was a young trainee, English was not her first language and she did not understand the term’s history or severity at the time.

She said she was learning songs required for trainee evaluations without knowing that the word should not be repeated.

That context explains what she understood as a teenager. It does not erase the harm caused by the language, which Lisa herself now acknowledges.

Lisa Says Her Team Wanted to Respond

“Always Lalisa” reportedly shows Lisa and her current company, LLOUD, attempting to prepare a response after the videos surfaced.

According to the account presented in the documentary and discussed during her Variety interview, YG Entertainment did not want a statement to be released.

The film reportedly portrays LLOUD as wanting to address the controversy while YG opposed a public response, apparently out of concern that it could escalate the situation.

Lisa was no longer signed to YG for her individual activities at that point, but the company continued to manage BLACKPINK’s group activities. The leaked footage also involved material recorded within YG’s trainee system and included other members of the group.

YG has not publicly confirmed the reported internal discussions or explained what authority it exercised over the proposed statement. Its side of the disagreement therefore remains unknown.

The available information reflects Lisa and the documentary’s account, not an independently established explanation from both companies.

“This Is Not OK”: Lisa Addresses Her Trainee-Era Racial Slur / Sony Music Entertainment Korea

The Leaks Allegedly Came With Death Threats

The situation went beyond criticism of the footage.

During the interview, Lisa was asked about a person described as the “YG leaker,” who reportedly released old trainee materials and made death threats against her.

This distinction is important. Available reports do not establish that every threat resulted directly from public anger over the slur. The allegations concern the individual associated with leaking the videos and threatening Lisa during the same period.

Lisa recalled wanting to concentrate on her first solo Coachella performance as the controversy unfolded.

“I was just sad because I really wanted to focus on my performance,” she said, explaining that she had to continue preparing despite events she could not control.

The documentary captures both sides of that moment: the legitimate demand for accountability over the language and the serious harassment Lisa faced as the footage spread.

Criticism of a public figure’s actions does not justify threats against their safety.

An Explanation Is Not the Same as an Excuse

Lisa’s age and background provide context, but the most important part of her response is what came next.

She did not argue that repeating lyrics made the word acceptable. She did not claim that being unfamiliar with its history eliminated the impact. Instead, she said she had educated herself and accepted that using it was wrong.

This is what separates an explanation from an excuse.

Lisa’s account suggests that she did not understand the word when the footage was recorded. Her apology focuses on what she understands now and the responsibility not to repeat it.

Whether audiences consider the apology sufficient will vary. Some may believe her age, limited English and trainee environment are important factors. Others may question why a direct public acknowledgment took so long.

Both reactions can exist alongside the basic fact that she has now addressed the incident herself.

“Always Lalisa” Is Ultimately About Finding Her Own Voice

The controversy appears in a documentary centered on Lisa’s growing independence.

Directed by Sue Kim, “Always Lalisa” follows a pivotal year in which Lisa established LLOUD, developed her solo career, released “Alter Ego,” made her acting debut in HBO’s “The White Lotus” and prepared for Coachella.

Lisa entered YG’s training system as a young teenager after moving from Thailand to Korea. In the documentary, she reflects on spending years afraid to express her thoughts or speak openly.

Forming LLOUD changed that relationship with her career. Lisa was no longer waiting for a company to make every decision for her. She became responsible for choosing her projects, building a team and deciding how her story would be presented.

That freedom also brings accountability.

Having control over her voice means being able to challenge decisions that once kept her silent. It also means taking responsibility when that voice has caused harm.

“Always Lalisa” is therefore not only a celebration of independence. It shows the more difficult side of gaining it.

Questions About YG’s Response Remain

The documentary’s account raises a significant question: would an earlier apology have prevented the controversy from growing?

There is no certain answer.

A prompt statement may have allowed Lisa to acknowledge the harm before speculation and anger intensified. It could also have drawn additional attention to footage that was already spreading rapidly.

What remains unclear is why YG reportedly opposed LLOUD’s plan and whether the decision was based on legal, contractual or public-relations concerns.

Until YG responds, it would be inaccurate to present its reported opposition as a fully explained fact. The documentary provides Lisa’s perspective, but not the company’s complete account.

Lisa Is No Longer Letting Silence Speak for Her

For years, Lisa’s public identity was shaped through carefully managed performances, campaigns and group promotions.

“Always Lalisa” gives her a different opportunity. She can discuss moments that are uncomfortable, damaging or impossible to fit into the polished image of a global pop star.

Her apology cannot change what was recorded. It can establish how she chooses to respond now.