Jennie is facing renewed scrutiny after a birthday video some fans felt echoed the past smoking controversy.
On January 16th, the BLACKPINK star shared a short clip on Instagram to celebrate turning 30. In the video, Jennie holds a cake as friends place sunglasses and a playful headband on her. She then puts a long birthday candle to her lips, lights it with a torch, plants it into the cake, and blows it out—sending smoke toward the camera—before breaking into a bright smile.
While the clip appears to be a lighthearted birthday moment, the candle-in-mouth gesture struck a nerve, given Jennie’s past. In 2024, she was criticized after footage surfaced of her using an e-cigarette indoors while filming in Capri, Italy, including exhaling smoke near staff members. At the time, Jennie acknowledged the incident, personally apologized to staff, and issued a formal apology through her agency.
Because of that history, some viewers felt the birthday video was an unfortunate choice. Critics pointed out that there were plenty of ways to light a candle without evoking smoking imagery. Others stressed there was likely no intent behind it, but argued the moment risked undermining the sincerity of her earlier apology.
At the same time, fans defended the post as nothing more than a casual, celebratory clip made on her birthday, saying it was never meant to reference the past controversy.
The split reaction highlights how closely public figures are watched—and how even small gestures can reignite old debates, especially when past apologies are still fresh in the public memory.
>> Jennie Apologizes for Indoor Smoking: Staff Member Defends Her Actions
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