BLACKPINK member Jennie has found herself at the center of controversy after her recent performances at several major European music festivals drew sharply divided reactions from international media.

In recent weeks, Jennie appeared at some of Europe’s biggest music festivals, including Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Open’er Festival in Poland, and Mad Cool Festival in Spain. At Roskilde, she performed a nearly one-hour solo set featuring songs from her album Ruby, including Filter, Mantra, Handlebars, Love Hangover, Seoul City, ExtraL, and like JENNIE, while also debuting unreleased tracks such as Lock It Down, Heaven, and little less.

Despite high expectations surrounding the global K-pop star, her performances quickly became the subject of intense discussion across European media, with several publications publishing critical reviews and giving her low ratings.

Among the most talked-about reviews came from GAFFA, one of Denmark’s oldest and largest music magazines. In its review of Jennie’s Roskilde Festival performance, the publication awarded her one out of six stars and published an eye-catching headline that translated to: “Jennie Couldn’t Even Lip-Sync Properly.”

According to the reviewer, the backing track and pre-recorded vocals were played at such a high volume that they frequently overpowered Jennie’s live singing. The review also criticized her stage presence, arguing that what should have been one of the defining moments of her solo career instead fell short of expectations.

Jennie also received less-than-favorable coverage in Poland. WP Kultura, the culture and entertainment section of Polish media outlet WP, published a review suggesting that “Not Every Star Shines Equally,” referring to her performance at Open’er Festival.

The article argued that although Jennie appeared as one of the festival’s headline performers, her set lacked the impact expected from a top-tier K-pop artist. It also claimed that the volume of the backing vocals was so loud that it often masked her live voice.

The publication further noted that audiences might have overlooked the heavy reliance on backing tracks if the overall performance had been exceptional. Instead, the reviewer concluded that the stage failed to fully meet expectations. The article also compared the crowd response to Jennie’s performance with Linkin Park’s appearance at the same festival the previous year, suggesting there was a noticeable difference in audience impact.

Another international review also drew attention with a headline translating to “Screams and Playback – Jennie at Open’er.”

The writer claimed that Jennie relied heavily on playback during the early part of her set rather than using partial backing vocals, a method commonly employed by many live performers. According to the review, close-up shots displayed on the venue’s LED screens made it easier for viewers to notice moments when her lip movements appeared out of sync with the audio, fueling further debate over her use of pre-recorded vocals.

Prior to the criticism surrounding her singing, Jennie had already sparked discussion for her increasingly bold stage styling during her European festival appearances. Viral fan-recorded videos showed the singer wearing lingerie-inspired outfits, figure-hugging bodysuits, and revealing costumes paired with choreography that some viewers considered overly provocative.

Some clips also showed Jennie holding the microphone noticeably away from her mouth while vocals continued to be heard clearly, prompting renewed speculation among online users about the extent of her reliance on backing tracks.

At Mad Cool Festival 2026 in Madrid, Jennie maintained a similar performance style, featuring multiple costume changes, form-fitting stage outfits, and songs from Ruby. Although fans enthusiastically cheered throughout the show, her bold artistic direction continued to generate polarized reactions across social media.

Since focusing on her solo career, Jennie has embraced a more mature, confident, and liberated image compared to her activities with BLACKPINK. Many fans argue that the concept aligns with both her artistic identity and the atmosphere of major international music festivals.

However, the latest wave of criticism from European media suggests that not only Jennie’s image but also her live performance quality is facing increasing scrutiny, making each of her festival appearances a widely debated topic among fans and critics alike.

Sources: K14