With her debut album, “Alter Ego” launched in early March, BLACKPINK’s (블랙핑크) Lisa (리사) is proving to be a jack of all trades as the 28-year-old Thai star debuted in her first acting gig, “The White Lotus Season 3”. She acts as Mook, the Thailand beach resort health guru, who finds herself in a romantic relationship with the resort’s security guard.
Despite the success of her album and the comeback of the murder mystery series, the star is facing yet another backlash for her feature on the cover of Vanity Fair. Published on 13th November 2024, the American publication featured Lisa in its “Hollywood Issue” lineup, which featured actors who are making waves in Hollywood. The lineup included the likes of Nicole Kidman and Zendaya, and was described as a celebration of cinematic excellence.
There was previously criticism about Lisa being part of the star-studded lineup, with many arguing that she doesn’t have the credentials. Following the recent season finale of “The White Lotus”, netizens brought back Lisa’s magazine feature, reigniting allegations of nepotism. Reportedly, Lisa only had 10 minutes of airtime collectively, which sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning why she was featured in the first place. Some netizens also accused Lisa of nepotism, linking her connection to her rumoured boyfriend, Frédéric Arnault.
Journalist Louis Pisano comments, “Now that that’s over (The White Lotus Season 3), 10 total minutes of air time does not make a Hollywood Star”, sparking agreement among netizens on his statement. Twitter user (@/bravodailymail) comments, “The comments coming at you, but they conveniently left out the part where her boyfriend’s father is the 5th richest person in the world”.
However, fans were quick to defend the idol’s position, arguing that despite her short airtime it does not discredit her skills in acting. Comparing Lisa’s role to Zendaya’s in “Dune”, one Twitter user (@/symphonysugar) commented, “Zendaya was in Dune for like 10 minutes and was still present throughout the press tour”. The user goes on to defend Lisa, saying that her role is crucial for marketing and promotional purposes, as the TV network HBO wanted.
Another Twitter user (@/asgardonfire) admits, “Had never heard of the show before Lisa joined the cast, so”, to highlight that the K-pop star had a big hand in contributing to the show’s soaring popularity. It’s worth noting that many fans previously used Lisa’s participation in the HBO series to defend her inclusion on the Vanity Fair spread.
It is reported that the 3rd season of “The White Lotus” has seen a strong viewership throughout its runtime, with over 16 million viewers on average. The season 3 premiere shows a 57% increase in viewers compared to the previous season, with a steady increase lasting up to episode 7.
What do we think about Lisa’s role in the popular murder mystery series? Is it just popularity speaking, or is her acting accounted for?
Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
