In an unexpected twist, BLACKPINK—one of the biggest names in K-pop—is at the center of a growing controversy involving two major tech platforms: Google and Spotify. A string of misinformation blunders has sparked concern among fans and raised questions about how digital platforms handle public figures.
The issue began when fans noticed something shocking: a Google search for BLACKPINK listed only three members—Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa—leaving out Jennie, a key member of the globally renowned girl group. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this omission wasn’t just surprising—it felt like a serious misrepresentation.
Fans, known collectively as BLINKs, quickly took action. Leading the charge was BLACKPINK BLINK UNION, a fan collective that represents the voice of the fandom. They issued a formal open letter to Nicholas Fox, Google’s Vice President of Product & Design for Search and Assistant, urging immediate correction of the error.
In their letter, the group stated:
“Some sources inaccurately claim that BLACKPINK consists of only three members. This is false and misleads users seeking to learn about the group. BLACKPINK is a South Korean girl group formed by @ygent_official and includes four members: #JISOO, #JENNIE, #ROSÉ, and #LISA.”
The letter, which was also shared on X (formerly Twitter), tagged both Google and the Google Search Liaison account, amplifying the call for accountability. The fans emphasized that all four members are essential to BLACKPINK’s identity and legacy, and asked that Google review and fix any content reflecting otherwise.
To make matters worse, this incident came on the heels of another mishap—this time on Spotify. On April 24, 2025, BLACKPINK’s Spotify profile was reportedly hacked. Although the group’s name and imagery remained intact, short-form videos were altered to show unrelated clips, and their hit track “Shut Down” was incorrectly labeled with an image of a different K-pop group, KISS OF LIFE.
Even more concerning was a temporary addition to BLACKPINK’s profile description, which resurfaced an old controversy from their early debut years—an incident involving racial slurs that had long since been addressed and resolved.
These back-to-back blunders have left fans frustrated and concerned about how easily misinformation can spread about global artists. For a group with BLACKPINK’s reach and impact, even small errors can echo around the world.
BLINKs continue to call for swift corrections and stronger safeguards to prevent such errors in the future. In their view, digital platforms have a responsibility to maintain accurate and respectful representations—especially when dealing with cultural icons like BLACKPINK.
The ball is now in Google and Spotify’s court. Will they rise to the challenge and fix the narrative?
