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As song plagiarism controversy grows, look at BLACKPINK’s past Indian cultural missteps

March 6, 2025
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As song plagiarism controversy grows, look at BLACKPINK’s past Indian cultural missteps

It seems like wherever BLACKPINK’s Jennie goes, scandals and controversies follow. This time, she’s facing backlash from Indians — and for all the wrong reasons. The BLACKPINK rapper recently released a teaser of her song Like Jennie on various social media platforms, but fans were quick to notice its striking similarity to Alia Bhatt’s introduction track Rani from the Bollywood movie Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Many pointed out that the snippet Jennie posted sounded almost identical to the theme composed by Indian artist Pritam, sparking plagiarism accusations. However, what began as a debate over music quickly escalated, with some BLINKs taking it too far by making racist remarks about Alia Bhatt. Some even claimed that Jennie couldn’t have taken inspiration from an Indian song since she is a “global superstar,” while Alia is “only” popular in India — with others even resorting to calling the country “dirty.”

BLACKPINK’s past controversies involving Indian culture

This isn’t the first time BLACKPINK has faced accusations of cultural insensitivity toward India.

Jennie’s Mantra controversy: Jennie’s song had previously sparked backlash over allegations of cultural appropriation. Many highlighted that “mantra,” a Sanskrit term meaning a tool for the mind and holds deep spiritual significance. Many argued that Jennie appeared to use the word without acknowledging its cultural roots, pointing out that the song’s lyrics did not align with its meaning.

Ganesha idol near Lisa’s foot: In the 2020 How You Like That music video, many spotted an idol of the Hindu god Ganesha placed on the floor while Lisa rapped from a throne above it. Following public backlash over the disrespectful portrayal, the video was edited to remove the God’s statue. The controversy deepened as Lisa was also seen wearing a jacket featuring an image of a Hindu god, sparking further criticism.

Use of bindis and Indian accessories: In the Kill This Love music video, BLACKPINK members were seen wearing bindis and maang tikkas. Due to the religious and cultural significance of these accessories in India, fans accused the group of cultural appropriation, criticizing the use of such items purely for aesthetic purposes as disrespectful to their meaning.

Mocking Bharatanatyam: Jennie and Rosé faced criticism for allegedly mocking Bharatanatyam — a sacred Indian classical dance form — in behind-the-scenes footage from the Kill This Love music video shoot. Many fans viewed their imitation as disrespectful and culturally insensitive.

Stereotyping Indian dance moves: BLACKPINK also performed a dance to the popular Punjabi song Tunak Tunak Tun during an appearance on the Korean variety show Knowing Bros. However, their exaggerated head-bobbing and hand gestures were criticized for reinforcing stereotypical depictions of Indian culture. Many Indian fans expressed frustration, feeling that their traditions were being reduced to a joke.

About Jennie’s solo album Ruby

Jennie’s debut solo studio album Ruby is set to release on March 7, 2025, through her label Odd Atelier in partnership with Columbia Records. This marks her first solo project since parting ways with YG Entertainment in 2023.

The 15-track album features collaborations with Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, Dua Lipa, and Kali Uchis. Jennie has already released three singles — Mantra, Love Hangover (featuring Dominic Fike), and ExtraL (featuring Grammy-winning rapper Doechii). The album’s next track, Like Jennie, appears to be her next release.

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