Inside the room: What it was like to be with Blackpink's Lisa as race scandal erupted

What is it like to be at the center of an online scandal?

This pivotal question is explored in a new documentary focused on Lisa Manobal, a member of the globally influential K-pop group Blackpink and a rising star from the television series The White Lotus.

The documentary unveils a significant controversy, stemming from leaked videos that reveal Blackpink members using racial slurs during their early years as teenage trainees in the K-pop environment. The clips, which surfaced last year, depicted the group performing US rap songs in rehearsals, with offensive language, including the n-word, left uncensored.

This scandal erupted at a critical moment when Lisa was preparing for a key performance at the Coachella Festival in 2025. In response to the controversy, some fans expressed outrage and demanded an apology; however, the band's record label prohibited the members from making any public statements.

As Lisa's team faced mounting pressure, documentarian Sue Kim maintained close access to Lisa, entering her dressing room during this tumultuous period.

"I said, 'Look, I know this is new. I know you guys are wildly confused and hurt, but this is your time to say whatever you want to say - even if you're just processing your thoughts and telling us what you're feeling," Kim recounted to the BBC.

Initially, Kim anticipated Lisa would decline the opportunity to speak candidly.

Surprisingly, Lisa reclined on a sofa and expressed her feelings genuinely.

"It's bad," she articulates in the documentary, revealing a combination of shame and anxiety.

Lisa explains that she was around "15 or 16" when the videos were recorded and was unaware of the harm associated with that term due to her upbringing in Thailand and her non-native English background. Having only encountered the word through rap music, she did not grasp its offensive implications.

"Now I would never ever do that because, now, I've got education," she reflects. "Now I know better. But I did wrong."

Her candid and authentic response contrasts sharply with the typical scripted public relations apologies. After the incident, Lisa did publicly apologize during an interview with Variety, although skepticism remained among some observers.

Kim emphasizes that Lisa’s spontaneous reaction is "one of the most important scenes" in her documentary, Always Lalisa, which debuted in cinemas on October 12.

"There was no premeditation on Lisa's part, there was no media training," she explains.

"I asked her one question and she just talked for an hour, and everything came out, and it's all stream of consciousness. And what you see with Lisa in that moment is so genuine, it's impossible not to feel compassion for her."

Breaking Free from K-pop's Restrictions

The incident overshadowed what was intended to be a triumphant launch for Lisa's debut solo album, Alter Ego. Throughout the film, Lisa grapples with receiving death threats yet continues to participate in public appearances, all while safety concerns persistently loom in her mind.

"To a certain extent I have to take [criticism] and compromise," she acknowledges, exhibiting signs of fatigue, "but sometimes, it's too much."

In a landscape often characterized by sanitized celebrity narratives, Kim's depiction of upheaval and discomfort is strikingly honest. She interrogates Lisa about negative reviews and captures moments where the pop star faces criticism from her vocal coach for her perceived lack of effort.

Despite the film being commissioned by the film division of Lisa's record label, which may influence its portrayal, Kim affirms that it is not merely a promotional piece. The director credits Lisa for making the film's authenticity possible.

"You never know when you meet an artist how transparent they'll be. And I have to give all credit to Lisa because she allowed us almost total access," Kim remarks.

"And when I showed her the film, she never asked me to remove a single scene. That's exceptional."

The primary narrative of the film chronicles Lisa's journey toward autonomy from the K-pop framework to unlock greater success in the Western music industry. When viewers first meet her, she is among the world's most recognized figures, boasting millions in record sales and lucrative partnerships with brands like Louis Vuitton and Bvlgari. However, she is bound by a K-pop environment that restricts her personal freedoms and relationships.

"I don't want my dating to be the thing to hurt Blackpink's popularity," she confides in the film. "But when I turned 25, I realized that this is not how you're supposed to live your life."

Consequently, Lisa makes the strategic decision to part ways with Korean entertainment firm YG, which discovered her as a teenager, opting to sign a new contract with RCA Records in the United States.

"Knowing her as I do, that took an immense amount of courage," Kim expresses.

"In general, she is a very kind, sweet person - and sometimes personalities like that, they don't want to rock the boat. Having been trained in the K-pop system from an early age, she had accustomed herself to obedience. Declaring that she wants a break is such a disruption to that way of life that I can only imagine it must have been building inside her for years."

Finding Independence

The potential rewards of pursuing a solo career were immense, but so were the uncertainties. The documentary presents Lisa grappling with the challenges of asserting herself in the recording studio and confronting her insecurities regarding her singing abilities.

At 25, she still exhibits a semblance of child-like innocence. The empowering essence encapsulated in her solo single "New Woman" feels more aspirational than tangible.

Kim observes this transformation as filming progressed.

"I saw a person who was very tentative and unsure of herself slowly starting to unfold her wings. Making mistakes, but also getting back up on the horse."

Kim identifies a burgeoning self-assurance in early home videos of Lisa participating in talent contests and draws connections between that ambitious seven-year-old and the emerging woman reclaiming her autonomy.

Lisa urgently pursues a role in the third season of the acclaimed series The White Lotus, successfully self-taping an audition that earns her the character of the empathetic wellness coach Mook Sornsin. On set, she notably disregards the strict moral standards typically associated with her pop career.

"Lisa threw more parties than anyone else," remarks the show's executive producer.

"And the defining characteristic of a Lisa party is tequila shots."

Despite the high-energy lifestyle, Kim and her crew often found themselves ill from the relentless pace required to match Lisa's demanding schedule.

"However, at the premiere of the film in Toronto, Lisa sought me out and brought bottles of tequila for a celebratory toast, and that marked a perfect kickoff for the film," she recalls with a laugh.

The documentary concludes in June 2025 as Lisa returns to Seoul and re-joins Blackpink. As she unpacks, a sense of inner conflict is evident.

"It's bittersweet, and I think that's OK," Kim reflects.

"I don't think people should interpret it as 'Oh, she hates Blackpink.' It's more about her contemplating this past year of freedom and fearing she might lose that. It’s a very astute concern."

Since then, Lisa has completed her commitments with Blackpink and embarked on the next phase of her solo journey with the release of the single "Sawadika." Kim expresses little surprise at this progression.

"Spending the year away from the K-pop system in the US really expanded her horizons," the director notes.

"She encountered a different entertainment paradigm where there isn't a strict vow of chastity. When two star performers partner up, they often gain even more clout.

"That exposure provided her with the realization that she could envision an alternate life. The notion that her career would not be jeopardized by pursuing marriage and family was liberating.

"Thus, part of Lisa's motivation to pursue her solo career may well stem from the desire for greater personal freedom to express her true self."