In her new documentary Always Lalisa, BLACKPINK’s Lisa directly addresses a controversial incident from her trainee years involving the use of a racial slur, explaining that she did not understand the word’s historical significance at the time because she was young, had recently moved from Thailand, and English was not her first language. The K-pop star, now 29, discusses the leaked footage in the film and in interviews surrounding its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, offering an explanation and an apology while acknowledging that her understanding has fundamentally changed since her trainee days.
The Lisa Always Lalisa documentary, which premiered at TIFF on September 11, 2026, and hits theaters on October 12, provides an intimate portrait of Lisa’s year away from BLACKPINK as she launched her solo career. But it also does not shy away from difficult moments, including the resurfacing of a video from over a decade ago in which members of BLACKPINK, as young trainees at YG Entertainment, were heard rapping along to songs containing the N-word. Lisa’s decision to address the controversy head-on in the documentary marks the first time she has spoken publicly about the incident in such depth.
The Lisa Always Lalisa documentary addresses the controversy directly, with Lisa providing context about the circumstances surrounding the video and her state of mind at the time. According to Lisa, the footage was recorded when she was a young trainee who had recently arrived in South Korea from Thailand. She explains that she was required to perform rap songs as part of her training and evaluation process, often without fully understanding the lyrics she was performing.
In an interview with Variety at TIFF, Lisa stated plainly: “I really have to apologize. To be honest, I’m Thai and I grew up in Thailand. There isn’t any education for that, so at the time, I didn’t know. Now I’ve learned and got educated about that, and I would never [do it again]. This is not OK. Seriously.” This quote represents one of the most direct acknowledgments from Lisa regarding the incident, distinguishing between her lack of awareness as a young trainee and her current understanding.
The documentary also reveals that Lisa was unable to make a statement about the leaked video when it first surfaced in March 2025, shortly before her solo Coachella performance. According to the explanation provided in the film, her label LLOUD wanted to respond, but YG Entertainment opposed the move, and with Lisa already facing intense backlash and even death threats, the team decided that speaking out at that time could escalate the situation further. This context helps explain the nearly year-and-a-half gap between the leak and Lisa’s public comments on the matter.
The incident in question involves leaked footage dating back to the period before BLACKPINK’s debut in 2016, when the members were trainees at YG Entertainment. The video, which circulated online in March 2025, showed members including Lisa, Jennie, and Rosé performing rap songs that contained the N-word. The footage was reportedly leaked by an individual claiming to be a former YG Entertainment employee.
At the time the video was recorded, Lisa would have been a teenager who had recently moved from Thailand to South Korea to pursue her dream of becoming a K-pop idol. She was part of YG Entertainment’s trainee system, an intensely competitive environment where young performers receive rigorous training in singing, dancing, rapping, and languages in preparation for potential debut. As part of their training, trainees often cover existing songs—including English-language rap tracks—to develop their skills.
The leaked footage attracted criticism because the songs being performed contained a racial slur with a deeply painful history, particularly in the United States. Before the documentary, the public knew only that the video existed and had been widely circulated online. Lisa had not previously addressed the incident in detail, nor had she explained her perspective on what happened during those training sessions. The BLACKPINK trainee controversy remained a topic of discussion among fans and critics, often without the full context that Lisa now provides in Always Lalisa.
In the Always Lalisa documentary and the interviews surrounding its release, Lisa offers a detailed explanation of her mindset during her trainee years. She emphasizes that she was very young and had only recently moved from Thailand when the footage was recorded. English was not her first language, and she had no familiarity with the history or cultural weight of the racial slur she was being asked to perform.
Lisa explains that, as a trainee, she was required to perform rap songs as part of her training and monthly evaluations, and that she did so without fully understanding the meaning of the lyrics. The documentary captures the broader context of the K-pop trainee system, where young performers often follow instructions and perform assigned material without questioning the content. Lisa describes this period as one where she “didn’t dare to speak up or express my thoughts,” a mindset she says she had lived with since she was 14.
Importantly, Lisa does not deny that the footage exists or that she used the word. Instead, she contextualizes her actions within her lack of understanding at the time, while making clear that her perspective has changed completely. She states that she has since educated herself about the word’s history and significance and understands why it is deeply offensive.
The distinction between an explanation and an excuse is important when considering Lisa’s comments in Always Lalisa. Lisa is not claiming that her youth or her cultural background exempt her from responsibility. Rather, she is explaining the circumstances that led to her using the word without understanding, while simultaneously acknowledging that what happened was not acceptable and that she has learned from it.
In her Variety interview, Lisa explicitly states: “Now I’ve learned and got educated about that, and I would never [do it again]. This is not OK. Seriously.” This statement serves as both an acknowledgment that her past actions were wrong and a commitment to not repeating them. The documentary also makes clear that Lisa’s views today are different from those she held as a young trainee, and she now understands why the word is deeply offensive.
Lisa also addresses why she did not issue an official statement when the video first leaked in March 2025. According to the explanation provided in the documentary, her label LLOUD wanted to respond, but YG Entertainment opposed the move. With Lisa already facing intense backlash and death threats, her team reportedly decided that speaking out could escalate the situation. This decision, while controversial, reflects the difficult position Lisa was in at the time—navigating a solo career launch while dealing with a controversy rooted in her trainee years.
The documentary does not declare that the controversy is “over,” nor does it claim that everyone has forgiven Lisa. Instead, it presents her explanation and accountability, allowing viewers to understand her perspective while recognizing that the harm caused by the language remains significant.
The racial slur at the center of this controversy has a deeply racist history in the United States, where it was used for centuries as a tool of oppression against Black people. Its use is particularly sensitive when employed by people outside the Black community, regardless of their cultural background or familiarity with American racial history. The word carries not only its historical weight but also its ongoing use as a weapon of racism and dehumanization.
Lack of awareness does not erase the historical significance of the language. Even when used without malicious intent—such as in the context of performing a song—the word can cause real harm and perpetuate the pain associated with its history. This is a principle that applies universally, not just to American artists or English speakers.
Lisa’s comments in Always Lalisa focus on her lack of understanding at the time and what she learned afterward. She does not make broad claims about Korean culture, Thai culture, or the K-pop industry as a whole. Instead, she speaks specifically about her own experience as a young Thai trainee in South Korea who did not understand the language she was performing. This specificity is important—it avoids generalizing about entire cultures or communities while still acknowledging the seriousness of the language she used.
The documentary’s handling of this issue reflects an understanding that addressing a racial slur requires both context and accountability. Lisa provides context without using it as a shield, and she offers accountability without claiming that her apology should resolve the matter for everyone.
Lisa’s journey from trainee to global star is one of the most remarkable in modern K-pop, and Always Lalisa captures both the challenges and the triumphs of that path. Born in Thailand, Lisa moved to South Korea in 2011 to pursue her dream of becoming a K-pop idol. She was YG Entertainment’s first non-Korean trainee, a fact that adds significance to her story and her eventual success.
During her trainee years, Lisa endured the intense pressures of the K-pop training system, which she describes in the documentary as being like a “boarding school” where she would sleep in a dorm every night and go to the company daily to practice. The system included strict rules: Lisa reveals in the film that trainees were not allowed to date, drink, or even have driver’s licenses, and their movements were tracked. Despite these constraints, Lisa’s focus remained on debut, and all she wanted at the time was to become an artist.
After debuting with BLACKPINK in 2016, Lisa quickly rose to global prominence. The group became one of the most successful K-pop acts in the world, with Lisa emerging as a standout performer known for her dance skills, stage presence, and charisma. Her solo career took off with the release of her debut album Alter Ego in 2025, which she recorded after forming her own management company, LLOUD, and signing with RCA Records.
The year documented in Always Lalisa captures Lisa’s transition from being under YG Entertainment’s strict control to having creative freedom and autonomy for the first time. She describes this period as one where she “finally get[s] to live my life.” The documentary shows her navigating the pressures of a solo album release, preparing for her Coachella performance, and dealing with the emotional weight of leaked material.
BLACKPINK’s significance in Lisa’s career cannot be overstated. The group—comprising Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé—debuted in 2016 and quickly became one of the most influential K-pop acts globally. Lisa’s role as the group’s main dancer and rapper helped establish her as a standout performer, and the group’s international success gave her a platform that few K-pop artists achieve.
In Always Lalisa, Lisa reflects on her relationship with BLACKPINK and her bandmates. She notes that after years of working together and touring, the members have discussed taking breaks but remain committed to the group. In her Variety interview, Lisa stated, “If I’m 50, I still want to do BLACKPINK. We just finished our tour earlier this year, but we talk a lot about this and have discussions about doing a little break—like I did almost two years ago—but we’re always going to be together.”
The documentary does not assign blame to other BLACKPINK members for the trainee controversy. While Jennie and Rosé appear in the leaked footage, the central focus remains on Lisa’s own comments and her personal accountability. Lisa speaks for herself, and the documentary does not attempt to make claims about what other members understood or intended at the time. This approach respects the complexity of the situation while keeping the narrative centered on Lisa’s own journey and growth.
Always Lalisa is an intimate documentary directed by Sue Kim, who previously worked on K-Pop Idols and The Last of the Sea Women. The film chronicles a pivotal year in Lisa’s life—the period after BLACKPINK announced they would pursue solo projects and Lisa formed her own management company, LLOUD. It captures her recording her debut solo album Alter Ego, preparing for and performing at Coachella, and navigating the challenges of building a solo career while maintaining her identity as part of BLACKPINK.
The documentary features interviews with Lisa’s family members, The White Lotus creator Mike White, and others close to her. It shows Lisa in moments of vulnerability—crying when discussing the pressures of her trainee years, reflecting on the strict rules she lived under, and expressing her fears about whether her album and performances will be received well.
Critics who attended the TIFF premiere described the film as an “intimate look at a global superstar told with a gentle hand that strips back the glamor.” The documentary shows both the highs of Lisa’s career—including her Coachella performance and her role in The White Lotus—and the lows, such as the album leak that occurred shortly before Alter Ego’s release.
The film also addresses the darker side of fandom, showing real online comments directed at Lisa that include words like “talentless,” “gold digger,” and “Thai dog.” Lisa speaks about the emotional toll of such harassment, saying in the film, “It’s as if they search for the words that will cut my soul the deepest. I’m a human being who works hard for what I love. Why is it not enough for them?”
Always Lalisa had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2026. Lisa attended the premiere, walking the red carpet at Roy Thomson Hall and participating in a post-screening Q&A session. Fans greeted her with enthusiastic screams, creating an atmosphere that some described as more akin to a concert than a film premiere.
The documentary is scheduled for a global theatrical release on October 12, 2026, including IMAX screenings. Tickets for IMAX screenings went on sale on September 9, 2026. The film will also open in Thai cinemas on October 12. As of the TIFF premiere, the documentary had not yet been made widely available to general audiences, and its release schedule supports a theatrical rollout rather than immediate streaming availability.
The renewed attention on the BLACKPINK trainee controversy stems directly from the release and premiere of Always Lalisa. The documentary marks the first time Lisa has addressed the leaked footage in detail, and her comments have generated significant discussion online. The distinction between the original incident and the current news event is important: the incident itself occurred over a decade ago during Lisa’s trainee years, while the current news event is Lisa’s decision to speak about it publicly in the context of her documentary.
Before the documentary, the leaked video existed online and had been discussed by fans and critics, but Lisa had not provided her perspective or explanation. The Lisa Always Lalisa controversy coverage now centers on what Lisa herself has said, rather than on the footage alone. This shift—from an old video to a current conversation involving Lisa’s own words—is what makes the story relevant today.
Always Lalisa presents Lisa as someone who has grown significantly since her trainee years, both as an artist and as a person. The documentary shows her grappling with the pressures of fame, the challenges of creative independence, and the emotional weight of public scrutiny. It captures her working through anxiety—about whether her album will leak, whether fans will understand her alter egos, whether she will get all the steps right for Coachella—and ultimately finding confidence in her own choices.
Lisa’s willingness to address the trainee controversy in the documentary reflects a level of maturity and accountability that she did not have as a teenager. She does not shy away from the difficult parts of her story, and she does not present herself as someone who has always known better. Instead, she acknowledges her past ignorance and demonstrates that she has learned from it.
The documentary also humanizes Lisa in ways that her music and performances alone cannot. It shows her love for her family, her relationships with her team, and her genuine appreciation for her fans. Director Sue Kim described the film as a way to show that Lisa is “just like us”—someone with fears, joys, and anxieties despite her extraordinary success.
Public reaction to Lisa’s comments in Always Lalisa has been mixed, with some fans expressing appreciation for her honesty and accountability, while others remain critical or skeptical. According to reports on social media discourse, some fans view Lisa’s explanation about her lack of understanding as reasonable given her background and age at the time, while others argue that the explanation does not fully address the harm caused.
It is important to distinguish between verified public reaction and anonymous speculation. While some outlets have described social media discussions as “divided” or “sparking mixed reactions,” these characterizations are based on general observations of online discourse rather than systematic analysis. No credible evidence suggests that “everyone is angry” or that “fans completely forgave Lisa.” The reality is more nuanced, with a range of perspectives represented across different platforms and communities.
Lisa’s career continues to expand across multiple domains. Following the release of her debut solo album Alter Ego in 2025, she has established herself as a solo artist with her own management company, LLOUD. She made her acting debut in the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus, which was set in her native Thailand and received significant attention. She also performed at Coachella, a milestone moment documented in Always Lalisa.
Lisa remains committed to BLACKPINK, stating that she wants to continue performing with the group for decades to come. Her ability to balance solo pursuits with her identity as a member of one of the world’s most successful K-pop groups speaks to her versatility and her dedication to both her individual artistry and her group’s legacy.
Lisa explained that she was very young and had recently moved from Thailand when the footage was recorded, and that she did not understand the history or significance of the racial slur at the time. She apologized, stated that she has since educated herself, and said she would never use the word again.
Leaked footage from before BLACKPINK’s 2016 debut showed members performing rap songs containing the N-word during their training at YG Entertainment. The video was leaked online in March 2025 by an individual claiming to be a former YG employee.
Yes. In her Variety interview, Lisa stated, “I really have to apologize… Now I’ve learned and got educated about that, and I would never [do it again]. This is not OK.”
Always Lalisa is a documentary directed by Sue Kim that chronicles a year in Lisa’s life as she launches her solo career, records her debut album Alter Ego, and navigates the challenges of fame and creative independence.
The documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2026.
It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada.
As of the TIFF premiere, the documentary is scheduled for theatrical release on October 12, 2026. It was not widely available for streaming as of September 2026.
The footage is being discussed again because Lisa addresses it directly in Always Lalisa, marking the first time she has spoken about the controversy in detail. Her comments have generated renewed public discussion.
Lisa stated that she has since educated herself about the word’s history and significance, understands why it is deeply offensive, and would never use it again.
Lisa is the main dancer and rapper of BLACKPINK, one of the most successful K-pop groups globally. She debuted with the group in 2016 and has also pursued a successful solo career.