On August 7, a post titled “HORSEKING’s honest comments about BLACKPINK from a few months ago” began circulating across online communities and social media.
The post included screenshots from a video titled “The Brave Man Who Saved HORSEKINGTV,” which was uploaded to HORSEKING’s YouTube channel in April.
At the time, HORSEKING introduced himself as a BLACKPINK fan, saying, “As you all know, I’m a BLINK. I’ve even been to their concerts three times.”
He then shared his criticism, saying, “But now, they don’t really feel like the same group they used to. They’re focusing more on their individual activities,” adding that “fans who like BLACKPINK specifically as an idol group probably won’t be happy about it.”
HORSEKING also gave his opinion on BLACKPINK’s February release “GO.” With a serious expression, he said, “Honestly, I think the new song is a mass-produced track designed for worldwide success.”
The production team then jokingly distanced itself from his remarks, saying, “HORSEKINGTV has nothing to do with these comments,” which drew laughter.
At the time, the comments were largely viewed as a humorous moment reflecting the personal opinion of a fan. However, HORSEKING’s remarks have resurfaced amid growing dissatisfaction among some BLACKPINK fans surrounding the group’s 10th-anniversary fan event.
YG Entertainment announced on August 6 that it would hold a fan event commemorating BLACKPINK’s 10th anniversary. The event is scheduled to take place in Seoul on August 8, with 40 fans selected by lottery given the opportunity to attend.
However, some fans have complained that the preparations appear inadequate. The announcement was made only two days before the event, while the exact venue will be revealed individually to the selected attendees. With only 40 fans invited for an event marking such a significant anniversary, some questioned whether the scale and preparation were appropriate.
There was also disappointment over the application requirements. Eligibility was limited to BLACKPINK Weverse membership holders who had completed their membership registration by July 31, while the application window lasted only nine hours, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on August 6. Confusion also grew over which members would attend after YG stated that “only some members who are able to attend according to their schedules will participate.”
In particular, after Rosé was recently spotted in Los Angeles, some speculated that she might not attend the 10th-anniversary fan event.
The Black Label, Rosé’s agency, addressed the speculation in an official statement on August 7 and denied that she would be absent.
The agency stated, “The artist has prioritized this schedule for a long time in order to share a meaningful moment with fans, and all of her schedules were confirmed in advance.” The agency also asked people to refrain from criticizing the artist based on speculation that had not been fact-checked.
Meanwhile, BLACKPINK renewed its contract with YG Entertainment for group activities in December 2023. Since then, the members have focused on solo music, concerts, acting and other individual projects through their respective agencies while continuing to participate in BLACKPINK’s group activities.
In February this year, BLACKPINK released “DEADLINE,” their first full-group album in approximately three years and five months. The group resumed its activities with new songs including the title track “GO.”
Sources: Naver