BLACKPINK Accused Of Insulting Hindu Religion With Ganesha Statue In Song

The popular K-pop girl group BLACKPINK found themselves embroiled in controversy when they used a Ganesha statue, a Hindu deity, as a prop in their music video for the song “How You Like That.” The video, which garnered immense popularity, faced backlash from Hindu fans who considered it an exploitation of their religion. The ensuing controversy led to the removal of the statue and its replacement with a gas tank.

The Controversy

The music video for “How You Like That” surpassed BTS’ “Boy With Luv” and gained significant attention since its upload on June 26, 2020. Within just 11 hours, it amassed 50 million views and reached a total of 230 million views in a month. BLACKPINK, consisting of Jisoo, Lisa, Jennie, and Rose, leads the group.

The Ganesha Statue

At the one minute and twenty-second mark of the music video, fans noticed a Ganesha statue placed in the corner of the set beside Lisa, who was rapping her part. This discovery sparked an outcry from fans, who demanded the statue’s removal from the video. Hashtags such as #Ganesha and #YGApologise trended on Twitter, with blame directed towards YG Entertainment.

Resolution and Repercussions

In response to the controversy, YG Entertainment decided to remove the Ganesha statue from the video to prevent further backlash. It was replaced with a cylindrical black gas tank. However, this gesture left Hindu fans of BLACKPINK, known as Hindu BLINKS, disappointed.

Aftermath and Updates

BLACKPINK India took to Twitter, expressing their awareness of the issue in the “How You Like That” music video. They deemed the usage of Lord Ganesha’s idol offensive and stated their intention to contact YG Entertainment regarding the matter. AllKpop later reported that YG Entertainment reached an agreement with YouTube to update the music video, incorporating the necessary changes without compromising the video’s analytics.

The controversy surrounding BLACKPINK’s use of a Ganesha statue in their music video brought attention to the issue of cultural sensitivity and religious respect. The subsequent removal of the statue and its replacement signify the band’s attempt to address the concerns raised by their fans. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains important for artists and entertainment companies to navigate cultural and religious representations thoughtfully and responsibly.

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