Lisa addresses BLACKPINK’s controversial trainee-era video

BLACKPINK’s Lisa has addressed a controversial video from the group’s trainee days in which members were seen using a racial slur while rapping.

BLACKPINK’s Lisa has addressed a controversial video from the group’s trainee days in which members were seen using a racial slur while rapping.

The incident is revisited in Lisa’s new documentary, Always Lalisa, which charts her journey to global fame as YG Entertainment’s first non-Korean trainee.

The documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, September 14, ahead of its theatrical release on October 12.

Speaking to Variety about the use of the N-word in the footage, Lisa apologised for her involvement.

“I really have to apologise,” Lisa said.

“To be honest, I’m Thai and I grew up in Thailand. There isn’t any education for that, so at the time, I didn’t know. Now I’ve learned and got educated about that, and I would never [do it again]. This is not OK. Seriously,” she added.

Lisa also addressed the leaked footage featured in the documentary.

“Everything is real. It’s all there,” she said of the leaks.

“I was just sad because I really wanted to focus on my performance, but things happened, and you can’t control stuff. But I fought through it,” Lisa added.

The documentary features interviews with Lisa’s family, The White Lotus creator Mike White and others, offering a look at her career and rise to international fame.

Despite her growing solo music and acting career, Lisa said she remains committed to BLACKPINK and hopes the group will continue working together.

“If I’m 50, I still want to do BLACKPINK,” she said.

“We just finished our tour earlier this year, but we talk a lot about this and have discussions about doing a little break — like I did almost two years ago — but we’re always going to be together,” Lisa added.

According to Billboard, the video showing members of BLACKPINK using the racial slur while performing was leaked ahead of Lisa’s solo performance at Coachella in 2025.

BLACKPINK wrapped up their Deadline World Tour in January.