The British magazine Elle UK has finally apologized for the racism controversy surrounding BLACKPINK's Rosé.
On the 2nd (local time), Elle UK posted an apology stating, "We sincerely apologize regarding the recent Paris Fashion Week post."
Previously, they released a group photo featuring Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, Charli XCX, and Rosé, but only published a cropped version that excluded Rosé. Charli XCX ignited allegations of racism by posting a photo where Rosé was in dark shadow.
In a video from the event, the four were seen sitting in a row watching the Saint Laurent show, while Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, and Charli XCX were engaged in bright conversations, Rosé was seen either remaining silent or looking down, which evoked sympathy.
Some netizens pointed out that this was a deliberate act of racism, and fans' protests grew increasingly intense. Only then did Elle UK hastily post a solo photo of Rosé, but netizens criticized them, saying, "It's already too late," "Apologize directly to Rosé," and "It's ridiculous to post this late."
Ultimately, Elle UK clarified, "Rosé from BLACKPINK was cropped from the group photo for size adjustment," and stated, "There was absolutely no intention to offend anyone."
They added, "The post has been deleted. Elle UK promises to do our best to ensure that our content adequately reflects the diverse readership we deeply respect."
This racism controversy was exacerbated not only by Elle UK's post but also by a photo posted by Charli XCX on social media. He posted a photo where only Rosé was shaded and later seemed to acknowledge the controversy by sharing a photo of the two together.
Previously, Rosé was appointed as the global ambassador for Saint Laurent in 2020, becoming the first Korean to hold this position, and has since served as a symbolic image for the brand. In January of this year, she was additionally selected as the global ambassador for Yves Saint Laurent Beauty, further solidifying her position.
Rosé's group BLACKPINK is currently on their world tour 'Deadline'.
