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Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ex-BIGBANG's T.O.P admits past mistakes for first time through ‘failed drug addict' character: ‘I can finally move on with my life'
Ex-BIGBANG member T.O.P, who recently made his comeback to the spotlight with Netflix series Squid Game, may have shattered fans' hopes of a band reunion with his recent interview. The K-pop group went on an indefinite hiatus, having faced several controversies. T.O.P, aka Choi Seung Hyun, was at the peak of his stardom in his 20s and then came a big downfall that ruined his career. Back in 2016, the K-pop idol got embroiled in a drug scandal, and later, in 2017, he pleaded guilty. This led to a 10-month suspended jail sentence. He then eventually left BIGBANG and YG Entertainment. T.O.P hadn't spoken publicly or done interviews for over 11 years. But recently, during promotions for Squid Game 3 in Los Angeles, he decided to break his silence and admitted to his past mistakes for the first time. Also read: Squid Game S3 gets brutal with new poster: A baby born into hell tests how low humanity can sink Bouncing back in the spotlight with Squid Game Season 2 as a character named Thanos, T.O.P signed up for a role that mirrored his own challenges. Thanos is a failed rapper and drug user. His role instantly became a popular choice among Squid Game fans. 'I think Thanos is a character that I had to have a lot of talks with Director Hwang to create,' the rapper said when asked to describe his character at Netflix FYSEE LA. 'We had a lot of talks down to the most minute details of this character. He's not an amazing rapper, he's more like a failed soul, a failed young person who's reliant on drugs. I looked up what happens when someone's addicted to those kinds of strong drugs.' The rapper had earlier called his return to the group 'shameful,' claiming he had hurt the reputation of the members. However, for the first time, he admitted to spiralling into tough times driven by anxiety and mood swings, and he took a chance to include those elements in the character of Thanos. 'I have made my mistakes in the past, and I have to come face to face with those mistakes when I was playing this character. So, I needed to muster up a lot of courage to take on this role,' he said. After his probation ended, T.O.P managed to work with BIGBANG again, but he received backlash and cancellation calls in return. Since 2023, he disappeared from the public eye, only to make a controversial return that proved to be a hit, and now he wants to open a new chapter in his life. 'Director Hwang gave me so much trust that I could have the confidence to play this role. While creating this character, Thanos, I could self-reflect about my past, and I think I can finally move on to a new chapter of my life. I learned a lot from this character,' he added. Also read: Squid Game season 2 review: Netflix's biggest series returns, filled with twists but not as fast-paced as season one Squid Game 2 received major boycott calls in South Korea when the initial casting lineup was announced with T.O.P's name among K-drama stars like Im Si Wan, Park Gyu Young, Kang Ha Neul, Lee Jin Uk, Park Sung Hoon, Yang Dong Geun, Kang Ae Shim, Lee Da Wit, etc. Some debated that he should not be allowed back into the spotlight ever. In 2017, the K-pop idol was convicted of marijuana use, with records suggesting it happened on three occasions. He was also discharged from the military and largely stayed off social media as well. Squid Game director Hwang Dong Hyuk had to later step in to justify his casting, saying, 'The incident happened a long time ago, and the sentence was completed,' adding that he has seen many artists return to the spotlight after such incidents and that it might be an appropriate time for him to return to work.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong or Singapore? Blackpink's mainland fans tackle tough ticket questions
Mainland Chinese visitors are expected to flock to Hong Kong in January next year for two concerts by K-pop superstars Blackpink , with fans trying to work out how to get their hands on tickets, the cheapest way to watch the shows and whether tour stops such as Singapore may be a better bet to see the girl group. The group's agency, YG Entertainment, this week revealed that Blackpink's 'Deadline' world tour would end at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium , following stops in South Korea, Taiwan, Bangkok, the Philippines, Singapore and Tokyo. The four-member group – comprising Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rose – will also be performing in Europe and North America over the summer, with the news sending Blinks – a term used to describe the group's most devoted fans – into a frenzy. Tickets for Blackpink's two shows at Kai Tak Sports Park's main stadium are priced from HK$699 (US$90), while the most expensive VIP package costs HK$3,499, as local promoter Live Nation revealed the seat map for their stage on Friday. Ticket sales will start on June 10 in an official fan club presale, followed by a Visa credit card presale and booking platform presale. General sales will begin on June 13 at 11am through the ticketing platform Cityline.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR : The Queens of K-Pop Just Declared an Asian Takeover and the Girls Are Not Playing Nice
The K-Pop Icon, BLACKPINK. Yes, them, the undisputed queens of stadium pop and chaos-inducing choreography. They announced the bombshell Asia leg of their hotly awaited WORLD TOUR, set to detonate stages across the continent starting October 18 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. You've had your time, North America. Europe, you screamed. Now it's Asia's turn to black out. In case you've been living under a rock. Or worse, listening to mid music. Let's recap. This is BLACKPINK's first full headline tour since their BORN PINK world takeover (2022 to 2023), which became the most lucrative tour by any girl group ever, grossing millions and drawing in 1.8 million rabid fans. If you're in Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, or Hong Kong, your calendars are about to become sacred documents. BLACKPINK isn't just stopping by. They're dominating. Tickets go on sale June 10 via Weverse Presale, followed by a VISA-exclusive free-for-all on June 11. General sales commence June 12 at 12PM local time, and if you're not logged in and caffeinated by 11:59, that's on you. Since their 2016 debut with Square One, BLACKPINK has delivered nothing short of pop perfection. Smashes like 'DDU-DU DDU-DU', 'How You Like That', and 'Kill This Love' didn't just top charts. They rewired the global music industry. Their 2020 full-length album 'THE ALBUM' was a masterclass in dominance, becoming the first by a female K-pop group to sell over 1.3 million copies. Then came BORN PINK, a second album so powerful it sold 2.82 million and topped the Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart simultaneously. No female Asian act had ever done that before. And no girl group had done it in decades. Let's not forget. These girls have been booked and busy on their own. JISOO. Dior's sweetheart with a solo debut that crushed Korean charts. JENNIE. From 'Solo' to HBO's The Idol, she's that it-girl. ROSÉ. With her ethereal voice and Yves Saint Laurent muse status, she's a one-woman fashion week. LISA. Rap queen, Bulgari boss, and the first K-pop soloist to win an MTV VMA. Eat your heart out. This isn't just a concert. It's a cultural event. A seismic moment. A glitter-soaked declaration that BLACKPINK is not done collecting trophies, broken records, and your attention. So charge your phones. Renew your passports. Start hydrating. The Asia leg of WORLD TOUR is here. You're either in the stadium or you're irrelevant. For tickets, visit And for God's sake, follow them on Weverse already. The post BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR : The Queens of K-Pop Just Declared an Asian Takeover and the Girls Are Not Playing Nice appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
Hype Malaysia
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Korean Rapper B.I To Bring 'The Last Parade Tour' To KL This September
After a successful solo concert in Kuala Lumpur last July, South Korean rapper B.I (비아이) will make his return later this year! The 'Tasty' singer will be in town this September for his upcoming concert tour. B.I's label, 131, recently dropped dates for his upcoming tour titled 'The Last Parade Tour,' which will kickstart in Seoul on 26th and 27th July before proceeding to several Asian countries. According to the poster, B.I will perform in Bangkok, Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and other cities. His concert in KL takes place on 21st September 2025 (Sunday), but no news yet on the venue. As the concert's name suggests, this upcoming tour will be B.I's last tour before his mandatory military enlistment. As such, the rapper has prepared tons of exciting things for his adoring IDs (B.I fans). The concert also marks B.I's second solo show in Malaysia, following his solo concert at Mega Star Arena in July 2024. The concert was a huge success, even going viral amongst Malaysians after the rapper brought a few lucky fans on stage. B.I debuted in 2016 as the main rapper and leader of the YG Entertainment boy group iKON. After leaving the group in 2019, he embarked on a solo career and launched his label in 2021. Since then, the 29-year-old has found success with hits like 'BTBT' and 'Tasty'. Besides performing at his solo concerts, B.I also appeared at international music festivals, including Lollapalooza and Rolling Loud. If you want to catch him live this September, here are the details of his concert: B.I 'The Last Parade Tour' in Kuala Lumpur Date: 21st September 2025 (Sunday) Venue: TBA More information on the concert, including venue and ticket sales, will be revealed soon, so stay tuned to this space. Are you excited to party with B.I this September? Source: Twitter
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
BLACKPINK to make full-group comeback this year
Girl group BLACKPINK will return with a new song featuring all four members later this year, the head producer of the group's agency said Monday. "We'll soon be able to announce news about BLACKPINK's new song," Yang Hyun-suk, founder and executive producer of YG Entertainment, said in a video posted on the company's official blog. Yang did not provide a specific release date. The upcoming single will mark the group's first release in two years and eight months, following its second full-length album, "Born Pink," in September 2022. The only exception since then has been "The Girls," an original soundtrack for a video game. BLACKPINK is set to launch a new world tour, titled "Deadline," with shows in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, on July 5 and 6. Yang also shared release plans for other YG artists. Rookie girl group Babymonster will drop a prerelease single, "Hot Sauce," on July 1, followed by a second single in September and an EP on Oct. 1. Describing "Hot Sauce" as a "highly addictive hip-hop song with a late 1980s feel," Yang said, "It's a gift we're releasing in hopes that you'll have a fun summer." He added that the company experimented with how Babymonster, whose average age is in the teens, would interpret a classic hip-hop genre from four decades ago and was pleased with the result. Boy group TREASURE will release a new EP on Sept. 1 and begin a new world tour in October. Yang said the company aims to support the group in releasing more than two albums annually. YG Entertainment also plans to introduce a new four-member girl group and a new boy group next year. Starting Wednesday, practice videos of the girl group members will be released one by one. "Currently, YG has two boy groups and two girl groups preparing for their debuts," Yang said. "I definitely want to launch one boy group next year." However, the company noted that the debut of the new girl group is expected to come later, as Yang expressed a desire to focus on Babymonster's growth through the end of next year. (Yonhap)
