Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal: How the K
A new documentary explores the controversy surrounding K-pop star Lisa Manobal after old videos of Blackpink using racial slurs surfaced. The film captures her vulnerable reaction to the scandal, where she explains her lack of cultural context as a teenager.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of global pop culture, historical ignorance, and the intense scrutiny faced by international celebrities.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Mark Savage Music correspondent Getty Images Lisa, who was born Pranpriya Manobal in Thailand, became one of the world's most-recognisable K-pop idols as a member of Blackpink What's it like to be the main character of an online scandal?
That's one of the questions raised in a new documentary about Lisa Manobal – one quarter of K-pop phenomenon Blackpink and a breakout star of TV show The White Lotus.
The film captures an unfolding controversy, as leaked videos show Blackpink using racial slurs when they were teenage trainees in the K-pop system.
The clips, which emerged last year, showed the band covering US rap songs during rehearsals. Explicit language, including the n-word, was left uncensored.
The scandal blew up while Lisa was rehearsing for a pivotal performance at the Coachella Festival in 2025.
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