BLACKPINK’s Jennie Rumored to Decline Show Appearance with Park Bo Gum and Ji Chang Wook Due to Criticism
BLACKPINK Jennie’s decision to turn down this offer sparked much buzz
On March 19th, Korean media outlets surprised many by announcing that BLACKPINK’s Jennie had declined an invitation to appear on a new variety show titled “My Name Is Gabriel”. The show features celebrities traveling abroad to experience the life of ordinary people. Earlier, several top stars, including Park Bo Gum, Ji Chang Wook, and Yeom Hye Ran, had confirmed their participation.
Jennie’s management label, ODD ATELIER, released a statement to Daily Sports stating, “We currently have no plans for Jennie to appear in any entertainment projects, including My Name Is Gabriel.”
Jennie’s refusal to join the show, especially alongside top actors like Park Bo Gum and Ji Chang Wook, caused a stir. Korean news outlet Isplus even suggested that this might be due to the recent underperformance of the variety show “Apartment 404,” with Jennie as one of the cast members.
Despite Jennie’s star power, the viewership for “Apartment 404” stands at only 1%, according to Nielsen Korea. Even though the initial viewership reached 2.7%, it gradually declined by the time episode 4 aired.
Furthermore, criticism has been directed at Jennie’s lack of standout presence on the show. Reports suggest that Jennie was taken aback by the severe criticism aimed at “Apartment 404.”
Allegedly, Jennie couldn’t attend the show’s dinner party due to overseas schedules. There are even reports that Jennie has shown little interest in continuing if season 2 of the show is produced.
However, amidst the conflicting reports surrounding Jennie’s decision, her company provided further clarification. According to a representative’s statement to OSEN, “Jennie has indeed declined the invitation to appear on My Name Is Gabriel. Currently, she is focused on her upcoming album and, therefore, unable to participate in the show.”
Earlier on March 8th, Jennie’s first post-YG song, “Slow Motion,” was officially released. The track is part of rapper Matt Champion’s debut album, “Mika’s Laundry.” Additionally, hints from Jennie and ODDATELIER, suggest that she is busy preparing for her solo album, slated for release in 2024. This hectic schedule explains her reluctance to commit to an entertainment show at this time.
Source: K14
