On July 2, a video titled “A Moment in Capri with Jennie” went live on her YouTube channel. One clip included in the video showed Jennie holding a black object to her mouth while getting her makeup done. Moments later, she exhaled a cloud of white smoke. The K-pop superstar was subsequently criticized, not just for smoking, but also for being inconsiderate to any non-smokers who were in close proximity to her. Her team has reuploaded the video, and the offending scene has been removed.
A Moment in Capri with Jennie
A week later, Jennie’s agency, Odd Atelier, issued an apology on her behalf. The agency stated, “We sincerely apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable with Jennie’s behavior in the content released on the 2nd. Jennie also deeply regrets smoking indoors and causing discomfort to the staff. She has personally contacted the staff who were present at the scene to apologize.”
The statement ended with these words: “We also apologize to the fans who were disappointed and promise to show a more mature and better side in the future.”
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How will Jennie deal with the backlash?
The controversy didn’t end there. A netizen actually contacted the Korean Embassy in Italy to complain about the incident. Believing that the video was filmed on Capri Island, Italy, the netizen said, “I reported it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the embassy to request an investigation from the Italian authorities on Jennie’s indoor smoking incident and to impose strict penalties accordingly. I am deeply disappointed by Jennie’s diplomatic faux pas and hope she takes this time to reflect.”
On July 11, an anonymous individual claiming to be one of the staff members who worked with Jennie that day, defended her in an interview with the South Korean media outlet Sports Chosun. They claimed she had simply taken a drag from a bubble pen, which is often sold at convenience stores, while her staff was looking for a lip product. The individual added that Jennie apologized repeatedly afterwards, and the staff involved, who were also smokers, said it was fine.
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“Although it is a problem that the smoke brushed by the top of the staff’s head, I think it’s not right for her past actions to be mentioned together as part of an attitude controversy [with this issue.] As her IRL friend, I’m leaving a comment as I feel upset that she is being misunderstood like this,” the individual said.
However, a follow-up report by XportsNews revealed that the person who defended Jennie was not an actual on-site staff member but a fan who pretended to be one. As this story develops, the public will be watching closely to see how Jennie and her management will deal with the ongoing backlash. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: She went to Italy for a fashion show and came home bearing backlash. Source: X/@JenniePeruBP.
