BLACKPINK Jisoo Faces Backlash for Supporting MEOVV Over BABYMONSTER, Fans Defend Her Loyalty
BLACKPINK's Jisoo has recently come under fire from some K-pop fans for allegedly "ignoring" YG Entertainment's newest girl group, BABYMONSTER, while publicly supporting another upcoming group, MEOVV. However, her dedicated fanbase, known as BLINKs, have been quick to defend her actions, arguing that her support for MEOVV member Ella Gross is rooted in a longstanding personal relationship rather than any intentional slight against BABYMONSTER.
The controversy began when Jisoo shared a post on her personal Instagram story promoting the debut of Ella Gross, a member of MEOVV, a girl group under YG's affiliate label, THEBLACKLABEL. Jisoo's story included a repost of Ella's debut trailer, which had already garnered significant attention online, with Ella's striking visuals and charismatic performance capturing the interest of K-pop fans worldwide.
Ella Gross, who gained fame as a child model and was often dubbed "Little Jennie" due to her resemblance to BLACKPINK's Jennie, has been close to the BLACKPINK members for years. Her relationship with the group has been well-documented, with numerous interactions and mutual support shared on social media.
However, Jisoo's show of support for Ella led to criticism from some netizens who felt that she had overlooked BABYMONSTER, YG Entertainment's first girl group since BLACKPINK debuted six years ago. These critics argued that Jisoo's failure to publicly acknowledge BABYMONSTER was a slight, suggesting that she was favoring MEOVV over her agency's new group.
One particularly vocal critic wrote on the online community Nate Pann, "BLACKPINK didn't mention BABYMONSTER, but Jisoo promoted MEOVV right away. It seems like the real 'BLACKPINK's little sister' is Teddy's girl group." This post quickly gained traction, amassing over 90,000 views, and igniting a debate among fans.
In response, BLINKs rallied to defend Jisoo, pointing out that she has no formal obligation to promote BABYMONSTER or any other group. They highlighted that Jisoo's support for Ella was a natural extension of their close, sister-like relationship, which predates both of their musical careers.
"BLACKPINK and Ella have been friends since she was very young," one fan explained. "Ella has supported BLACKPINK consistently, celebrating their birthdays, attending their concerts, and promoting their solo projects. It's only natural that Jisoo would support her in return."
Another fan added, "Ella has been a part of BLACKPINK's lives for years. They're practically family. It's absurd to criticize Jisoo for promoting someone she's close with just because she didn't also promote BABYMONSTER."
Indeed, the connection between Jisoo and Ella Gross is well-documented. Ella, who has been described as a "glitz pageant queen" and a child prodigy in the modeling world, has been linked to BLACKPINK since she was nine years old. Her relationship with the group is personal, not professional, and has been characterized by mutual support and affection over the years.
Despite the backlash, many fans believe that Jisoo's actions were simply a reflection of her personal relationships rather than a deliberate choice to overlook BABYMONSTER. As one fan succinctly put it, "Jisoo isn't BABYMONSTER's social media manager. She's free to support her friends as she sees fit."
MEOVV, THEBLACKLABEL's first girl group, is set to debut in September, and Ella Gross's involvement has already generated significant buzz in the K-pop community. As for BABYMONSTER, while Jisoo may not have publicly endorsed them yet, the group has still received widespread support and attention from both YG Entertainment and the global K-pop fandom.
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