Latest news with #BlackPink
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Blinks disappointed, Blackpink skips Malaysia for its world tour
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Blinks were left disappointed when their favourite K-pop supergroup, BlackPink, omitted Malaysia from their 'Deadline World Tour'. Although the tour, which kicks off at Goyang Stadium in Seoul, was announced last month, the complete list of global venues was only revealed today on the band's official Instagram account. While Malaysia was excluded, 15 other locations, including the United States, England, France, and the Philippines, were listed. After two nights in their home country, Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo, and Rosé will head to Los Angeles before concluding the tour in Hong Kong next January. The Bangkok concert will span three nights, while Jakarta, Singapore, and Bulacan (in the Philippines) will each host two-night performances. "And Malaysia, none at all," lamented fans in the comment section of the announcement post. Some even urged BlackPink's record company, YG Entertainment, to consider adding Malaysia to the tour itinerary. "Why is Malaysia not listed when there are so many fans in Malaysia?" one fan wrote. "Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand get concerts for more than a day but Malaysia doesn't," another commented. "YG Entertainment, please take note, we fans in Malaysia want it too," read another plea. Today, YG Entertainment uploaded a poster on Instagram listing the tour concert locations for the group comprising Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo, and Rosé.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Siti's 'Like Jennie' dance goes viral for modesty
KUALA LUMPUR: A recent TikTok video shared by national songstress Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin has captured the attention of netizens. In the clip, she is seen dancing to 'Like Jennie', a song originally performed by Jennie of the hugely popular K-pop group BlackPink, in a rehearsal studio. However, Siti gracefully performed the dance moves, accompanied by three young dancers in the 23-second video, which has already garnered over 2.2 million views. Her interpretation was more fitting for her status as a 46-year-old mother of two and a modest Muslim woman, as she toned down the Korean idol's typically sexy style. In the comments section, netizens expressed their delight and admiration for Siti, praising her for acknowledging these considerations while still engaging with a music trend popular among her younger fans. One netizen commented, "While I know she can do exactly like Jennie, kudos to her for opting for more appropriate dance routines." Another chimed in, saying, "This is a more modest version of Jennie."
7NEWS
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Labubu fever: The plush toy invasion you didn't see coming
The rise of Labubu dolls has taken over the world — and more specifically, people's handbags. These toothy, elf-like plushies have drawn huge crowds, with people waiting for hours to get their hands on the viral figurine. So, how did this Labubu craze start? Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung is the artist behind Labubu. He was inspired by Nordic mythology after moving to the Netherlands. Labubu first appeared in 2015 as part of Lung's story series The Monsters. Then in 2019, Lung partnered with leading global toy company Pop Mart, known for its blind-box collectibles (blind-boxes meaning it's unknown which figurine is inside until it's opened). However, it wasn't until K-pop star Lisa from BlackPink posted a picture on Instagram in April 2024 — hugging a Labubu — that its popularity skyrocketed and quickly spread across Asia. From collectible lovers to the Thai royal family, Labubus were everywhere. That popularity eventually spread beyond Asia, including to Australia over the past year. According to Business Insider, PopMart earned $2.8 billion in 2024. Sales of The Monsters toy line, which includes Labubu, contributed 23 percent of Pop Mart's total revenue. Labubus alone generated $644 million in 2024. Their popularity has also created a secondary market, where fans trade or sell Labubus on platforms like eBay and Facebook—some going for thousands of dollars. So, why do people collect them? Collectibles are not a new phenomenon. Think Pokémon cards, Beanie Babies, and vinyl records. In a TED Talk, neuroscientist and psychologist Daniel Krawczyk explained, 'collecting behaviour is linked to specific brain regions, which are associated with experiencing rewards, obtaining rewards, and anticipating rewards.' 'It's connecting with other people who are like-minded. Our brains are very social.' However, academics at the University of California argue that 'mystery box collectibles contribute to mass overconsumption and create further problems for the environment,' due to their heavy use of plastic. And if these figurines continue to amass fans and grow in popularity, they may 'pose an environmental threat, in part due to the excessive and consistent purchase of the items.' So — will you be buying these little creatures?
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Labubu bag charms are everywhere – here's where to get yours
Love them or hate them, there's something undeniably refreshing about the frivolity of Labubu bag charms. You may have seen these mischievous, slightly creepy-looking characters dangling from designer bags, sometimes teamed with other similarly colourful bag charms. The designer toy turned must-have fashion accessory was created by Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung in 2015, part of his whimsical collection of characters, The Monsters. Based on Dutch and Nordic folklore, the elf-esque figures are sold predominantly by the Chinese toy company Pop Mart. The latest is the "Big Into Energy" series (£17.50, which dropped in the spring. To give you an idea of scale, the toys are around six inches, about the same size as an iPhone 16. Ramping up the excitement is the fact that they're typically sold in 'blind boxes'. They contain a toy chosen at random from the series, so you won't know which one you've got until you open the box. In addition to regular designs, there are also so-called 'secret edition' Labubus, which are especially rare and sought-after. Leaning into maximalism, they're far from the blanket of boring neutrals across high street fashion this year. Bringing a pop of personality and fun to any outfit, it's easy to see the appeal. Their popularity can be traced back to Lisa from the K-pop band BlackPink, who was seen to be a fan. Having previously shared Labubus on her Instagram stories, the singer has confirmed her love of Pop Mart during blind box unboxing for Vanity Fair, and even referred to Labubu as her 'baby' when interviewed for Teen Vogue. Since then, Rhianna has been seen adorning her Louis Vuitton bag with a lychee berry Labubu, and Dua Lipa has also jumped on the trend. Now, the charms can often be seen dangling from Birkins and Mui Mui bags, lending them a fun and colourful twist (though, of course, you don't need to have a designer bag to partake in the trend). With a surge of interest in bag charms – such as Coach hanging cuddly toys from its bags at its New York Fashion Week show – the hashtag Labubu has appeared more than one million times on TikTok. It's unsurprising that the toys sell out at lightning speed. But if you're determined to find one for yourself, keep reading for what you need to know. Where to buy Labubus in the UK Pop Mart, which has an online shop as well as hundreds of brick-and-mortar stores globally, is the main seller of the toy, so Labubu figures can be bought from the Pop Mart platform. One of the newest additions to the range is Labubu × Pronounce wings of fortune figure, characterised by its dark purple fur and golden outfit (£31.50, And it's not just hanging charms, as the brand also makes pendants, figures (£31.50, bags (£28.90, and more, though, at the time of writing, they're all sold out. You might find you have more luck finding the toys at other sellers, which include StockX, Depop, eBay and the Pop Mart store on Amazon. However, you do need to be wary when shopping elsewhere, as counterfeit versions will be lurking on resellers' sites, so it pays to research the differences between the fakes and the real thing. There are also several shops in the UK, so if you'd rather buy your Labubu in person, you can head to locations including the Westfield London shopping centre, Hamleys on Regents Street, Oxford Street and others. Adding to the fun, they can also be bought from Pop Mart's vending machines, which are called 'Robo Shops', at a couple of locations.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Lisa's Underwear & Rosa Parks? Mystery Solved
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Some people imagine seeing a famous person's face on a burnt piece of toast. Online viewers and international media however were wondering if the embroidered crotch and rear of a sexy bodysuit branded by Louis Vuitton (LV) intentionally portrayed the late Black civil rights leader Rosa Parks' face. And, if so, why did one of Thailand's most cherished celebrities, Lisa, wear and display the dazzling, no-pants outfit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala on May 5 in New York? "People think the Louis Vuitton panties Lisa wore to the 2025 Met Gala have Rosa Parks' face on them," People magazine headlined its report. "According to Vogue, artist Henry Taylor embroidered portraits into her [Lisa's] ensemble. "Taylor was previously commissioned by Pharrell Williams -- Louis Vuitton's men's creative director and 2025 Met Gala co-chair -- to embroider the same design for the brand's Men's Spring-Summer 2024 show," People reported. After photos and questions about Lisa's outfit went viral online, Louis Vuitton said in a statement to The New York Times: "The lace replicates elements of an artwork by the American artist Henry Taylor, depicting portraits of figures who have been a part of the artist's life." LV "did not clarify if any famous faces were included," People magazine noted. E! Entertainment Television, Buzzfeed, and other media published similar reports. The Cut, based in New York, asked in its headline: 'Is That Really Rosa Parks on Lisa's Crotch?' "It appears to be a collage of faces of different women, including at least one that looks more than a little bit like Rosa Parks,' The Cut reported. "Never in our wildest dreams did we expect to zoom in on Lisa's crotch and wonder, 'Is that Rosa Parks?'" Even Hanoi-based Vietnam Express chimed in, headlining its story: "BlackPink's Lisa slammed as Met Gala bodysuit appears to show face of U.S. activist Rosa Parks." Shocked viewers from around the world posted their dismay and anger about the controversy on X, Instagram, Facebook and other sites. Lalisa Manobal, who goes by the name Lisa, has enjoyed skyrocketing fame as a pop singer during the past decade and appeared as a main actor in the latest White Lotus series set here in Thailand. Lisa, 28, is also the pride and joy of Thailand, her home country, attracting millions of fans and the support of the Thai government. She first achieved international fame several years ago as the only Thai singer alongside South Koreans in an all-girls' K-Pop singing group known as BlackPink. BlackPink's catchy first hit was a mostly Korean-language song and video titled, "DDU-DU DDU-DU." It successfully melded American hip-hop hand gestures, strutting, attitude and other stereotype dancing and singing, alternating with saccharine-sweet pouting, innocent poses, and coy crooning. Lisa became so famous that the Thai government promoted her in 2023 in its official international "soft power" campaign to convince the world this Southeast Asian nation's modern culture, tourist sites, cuisine and other lures are dynamic and thrilling. Several months ago, after Lisa appeared in a video while singing in Bangkok's bustling Chinatown, the Thai government and local media praised her for highlighting the neighborhood which is a main tourist attraction. Fans rushed to photograph selfies posing like her in the same street. Lisa also became a brand ambassador for Céline, Bvlgari, and other products. "Her solo track 'Lalisa', further etched her name in history by becoming the first K-pop number to surpass one billion streams on Spotify," Thailand's Nation news reported. "Lisa and her BlackPink band also attended a state banquet at Buckingham, hosted by the king and queen of Britain." Damage to Lisa's image began on Monday (May 5) when questions about who is portrayed in viral close-up photos of her black lace bodysuit's crotch and rear, shot when she professionally modelled the LV outfit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's gala. The celebration showcased the Met's "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" exhibit. It "explores the importance of style to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora, particularly in the United States and Europe," the museum said. The gala's theme "drew inspiration from Barnard [College] professor and author Monica L. Miller's 2009 book, 'Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity'," NBC's Today website reported. "There is a face of what appears to be a woman with glasses, but nothing else to indicate it is Parks," Today said. The black bodysuit Lisa wore was embroidered with several different, tiny, unidentified single-line faces which appeared generic. Her accessories included a single-breasted blazer and sheer LV monogrammed tights. Hours before the gala, Vogue released a video titled, "Inside Lisa's First Met Gala Look," in which she receives advice from Mr. Williams during the final fitting. "Today I'm wearing Louis Vuitton by Pharrell. It recreates an artwork by Henry Taylor," Lisa says in a fitting room while the camera shows close-ups of the small embroidered faces. "You have to see all the details. Like, can you zoom in? Like you can see, like, the LV logo. Also his [Taylor's] art. I fall in love with this right away." She wondered however "if this look is a little too feminine, too girly." Her black blazer's lace also displayed the pattern of small faces. Some viewers however went online claiming one repeatedly patterned face, wearing glasses, was Ms. Parks. In 1955 Ms. Parks, a seamstress, refused a bus driver's demand that Blacks must sit in the back of all public buses in Montgomery, Alabama. She went on to help lead a lengthy Montgomery Bus Boycott, during which she was jailed and lost her job. The boycott ended segregated seating and she became an icon of the civil rights movement. Ms. Parks died in 2005 aged 92. Belatedly, two days after the mystery went viral online and in the media, New York Magazine's Vulture news scooped the answer to the mystery and reported: 'The figure featured in Lisa's Louis Vuitton look is not Rosa Parks, but one of Henry's neighbors,' a representative for artist Henry Taylor said in a statement to Vulture. 'The faces seen on this look, as well as on previous LV garments featuring Taylor's artwork, are all drawn from his personal life — family members, friends, and neighbors. These figures come directly from Henry's existing artworks, which he provided to LVMH for Pharrell's debut collection with Louis Vuitton in 2023. "None of the individuals depicted in any of the garments are Rosa Parks or other well-known figures from Black cultural history. They are all people from Henry's own life," the statement to Vulture said. Richard S. Ehrlich is a Bangkok-based American foreign correspondent reporting from Asia since 1978, and winner of Columbia University's Foreign Correspondents' Award. Excerpts from his two new nonfiction books, "Rituals. Killers. Wars. & Sex. -- Tibet, India, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka & New York" and "Apocalyptic Tribes, Smugglers & Freaks" are available at
