On January 16, Jennie posted a short clip on her personal SNS to celebrate her 30th birthday. In the video, she holds a cake while friends place sunglasses and a playful character headband on her. Jennie then puts a long birthday candle in her mouth, lights it using a torch, places it onto the cake, and blows it out, with the smoke drifting toward the camera. She soon removes her sunglasses and smiles brightly, clearly enjoying the celebration.
While the clip may have been intended as a lighthearted and creative way to mark her birthday, some viewers expressed disappointment, noting that the gesture could be reminiscent of smoking. This reaction is largely tied to Jennie’s past controversy involving indoor and secondhand smoking.
In 2024, Jennie faced strong backlash after footage surfaced of her using an e-cigarette indoors during a shoot in Capri, Italy, and exhaling smoke near staff members. At the time, her side acknowledged the incident, confirmed that she had personally apologized to the staff involved, and issued an official apology through her agency.
Because of that history, the birthday video prompted criticism from some netizens, who questioned whether the imagery was an appropriate choice given the previous incident. Many pointed out that there were countless ways to light birthday candles, making this particular method feel unnecessary and poorly considered, even if there was no intention to reference smoking.
Others, however, defended Jennie, arguing that the video was simply a playful birthday moment with no deeper meaning, and that it was unfair to overanalyze a celebratory clip meant to be fun and personal.
Still, critics countered that public figures, especially those who have previously apologized for similar controversies, should be more mindful of how their actions might be perceived. They argued that moments like this can unintentionally cast doubt on the sincerity of past apologies.
As opinions continue to diverge, Jennie’s birthday video highlights how past controversies can linger, influencing how even casual, celebratory content is interpreted by the public.
Sources: Naver
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