Why is Jennie of BLACKPINK trending, but not for the right reason? Here's what we know

    This trend is related to BTS rapper RM and ARMY have been giving back to BLINKs and their comments.

    Jennie of BLACKPINK

    Jennie of BLACKPINK

    Caution is warranted in light of the inappropriate comments made by fans.

    Despite being in the military, the seven men from the global phenomenon BTS have been releasing pre-recorded music, ensuring their fans, called ARMY, don't miss them too much. However, this has also sparked issues among those who aren't fans of the boy group. It's not uncommon to witness fan wars in the realm of supporting one's favourite music artist. Unfortunately, these conflicts can escalate into words and actions that are not appreciated by the general public.

    Recently, BTS' RM released his second album, "Right Place, Wrong Person," which has been a hit among ARMY and local hip-hop and rap fans. However, tensions arose with BLACKPINK fans, known as BLINKs, who initiated a hate campaign against Kim Namjoon. Matters worsened when the criticism turned personal, targeting RM's appearance.

    ARMY, known for their protective stance towards BTS, didn't stay silent and retaliated with equal force, dragging the four BLACKPINK members into the fray. Unfortunately, Jennie bore the brunt of the backlash. In no time, "JENNIE SEOUL CYCLE" became a trending topic with thousands of engagements on X (formerly known as Twitter).

    However, the term "SEOUL CYCLE" didn't sit well with BLINKs, leading to an escalation in the fan war. The association of these words with Jennie stemmed from her dating history.

    Why is Jennie of BLACKPINK called names?

    Used in a negative context, it revolved around her dating history, which garnered considerable attention. Her first scandal emerged when she was allegedly linked to BLACKPINK producer Teddy in 2017, an allegation later refuted by YG Entertainment.

    Her second scandal involved dating YG Entertainment’s then-CEO, Yang Hyun Suk, in 2018, with Jennie being perceived as his favourite. Reports even suggested that Yang Hyun Suk personally selected outfits for Jennie’s solo music video in 2018, leading to speculation about her relationship with him.

    Jennie's third dating scandal occurred with EXO's Kai. Both YG and SM Entertainment confirmed the relationship, but it ended shortly after it was made public. This led to speculation that "JenKai" was merely a media ploy to generate hype around Jennie's solo debut and EXO's comeback.

    Her fourth dating scandal involved K-pop group BIGBANG's GDragon. In 2021, Dispatch reported that the two were dating and had been seen together at GDragon's penthouse, with Jennie being a frequent visitor. Although YG neither confirmed nor denied the relationship, fans noticed GDragon liking posts about the "JenDragon" ship.

    Jennie’s fifth scandal arose with BTS' Kim Taehyung, also known as V. It began when he accidentally followed her on Instagram. Later, an X account leaked unseen pictures of the two. However, fans speculated that the person seen with Jennie was not V but a lookalike who was friends with her. Taehyung never acknowledged Jennie or any relationship with her, leading fans to believe that the person Jennie was dating was V's lookalike.

    Jennie's sixth dating scandal involved The Boyz's Juyeon. Both her new agency, Odd Atelier, and Juyeon's agency have not given a statement about the dating.

    While all these incidents made headlines, her association with The Weeknd also drew attention after she starred in the series "The Idol," which faced severe backlash due to inappropriate scenes. Many even linked her to his song "Kpop."