BLACKPINK’s Rosé found herself at the center of an unexpected racism controversy during Paris Fashion Week, sparking outrage among her global fanbase.
On Sunday local time, Rosé attended the Saint Laurent 2026 S/S collection show as a global ambassador, seated front row alongside Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, and Charli XCX.
However, multiple clips circulated by media outlets show Bieber, Kravitz, and Charli XCX chatting animatedly while Rosé appeared left out of the conversation. In particular, one moment of Charli XCX turning her back toward Rosé to engage only with the other two fueled perceptions that the K-pop star was being deliberately excluded.
The footage spread rapidly on social media, igniting anger among fans worldwide. Charli XCX’s Instagram posts from the event were quickly flooded with criticism: “You always say you’re women supporting women, but clearly not,” “Racist,” and “Rosé has 80 million followers, you have 8 million—is this jealousy?” Hundreds of similar comments accused the singer of disrespect.
One photo Charli XCX uploaded from the Saint Laurent show intensified the backlash: of the four seated stars, Rosé was the only one shown obscured in the shadows.
Fans’ frustration grew sharper given Charli XCX’s recent connection to Korea. Just a month earlier, she headlined the One Universe Festival in Seoul, expanding her presence among Korean fans. Rosé, meanwhile, had supported her in May by attending her New York concert and even joining in her viral “Apple Dance Challenge.”
The incident recalled a similar controversy in October last year, when fellow Blackpink member Jennie was subjected to racially insensitive behavior by actress Margaret Qualley at a Chanel show in Paris. Qualley touched Jennie’s blonde hair and asked, “Is this really yours?”—a moment that caused widespread uproar among fans.
Meanwhile, Rosé has been riding a wave of international recognition. Earlier this month, she won Song of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards for her hit APT., solidifying her status as one of the world’s most influential pop stars.
>> Margaret Qualley Criticized for “Is That Your Real Hair?” Comment to Jennie at Chanel Show
Source (1)
