BBC Commented on Jennie’s Indoor Smoking, “Celebrities Held to Rigid moral Standards”

On July 11 (local time), British media outlet BBC reported BLACKPINK’s Jennie’s indoor smoking controversy with an article titled, “Blackpink’s Jennie ‘regrets’ vaping indoors”

Previously, the video of Jennie smoking indoors quickly spread through online communities. The footage showed Jennie preparing for a brand runway event on the island of Capri, Italy. Surrounded by staff, Jennie was seen smoking an electronic cigarette while receiving hair and makeup services. At one point, she exhaled smoke close to a staff member checking her makeup, sparking debates not only about indoor smoking but also secondhand smoke and alleged misconduct.

As the controversy grew, Jennie’s independent label, Odd Atelier (OA), issued a statement saying, “Jennie is reflecting on smoking indoors and the resulting impact on the staff. She has personally contacted the staff present to apologize. We also apologize to the fans who felt disappointed.”

The BBC highlighted a comment from a South Korean netizen, which says “Do you need to be educated for all the basic manners?” 

It explained that smoking indoors, including electronic cigarettes, is strictly prohibited in South Korea, with fines of up to 100,000 KRW. The BBC noted that this is not the first time South Korean celebrities have faced scrutiny, stating, “South Korean celebrities are no strangers to the intense scrutiny. The country holds them to rigid moral and behavioural standards and no misstep goes unnoticed.”

The BBC also pointed out that OA did not specify Jennie’s exact location at the time and mentioned that other Korean celebrities like Do Kyung-soo and NCT’s Haechan have also been fined for indoor smoking.

The article garnered significant attention, with over 800 comments on the BBC’s official social media. International fans expressed confusion over the public apology, with reactions like, “I don’t understand why Jennie is apologizing,” “Why are people angry?” “Korean fans are overreacting,” and “I thought it was 1934.” Most comments focused on the fact that it’s normal for an adult to smoke an electronic cigarette.

Some criticized Jennie’s actions, noting, “It’s not about the electronic cigarette but the location,” and “Blowing smoke in someone’s face is rude.”

Source: BBC, Daum