BLACKPINK's Jisoo cancels airport press event as brother controversy intensifies

BLACKPINK member Jisoo has ultimately decided to cancel her scheduled airport press appearance set for tomorrow (April 22), as she continues to face public scrutiny over a series of controversies involving her older brother. The sudden cancellation has drawn significant attention across the industry, with many interpreting it as a move influenced by the growing fallout.

According to industry sources on April 21, the public relations agency handling Jisoo’s travel schedule notified reporters earlier in the day that “the airport departure press event scheduled for April 22 has been canceled due to unavoidable internal circumstances.” The agency added, “We apologize for any confusion caused to journalists who prepared for the coverage and ask for your understanding.”

Jisoo had originally been scheduled to depart from Incheon International Airport for Paris, France, where she was expected to appear in front of the media and showcase her airport fashion. Airport press events are a major promotional tool for Hallyu stars, often drawing significant media attention. The cancellation, coming just a day before the scheduled event after prior notice had already been issued, is considered highly unusual.

In particular, industry observers note that it is rare for an artist to cancel a planned airport press appearance at the last minute for reasons described only as “internal circumstances” rather than health-related issues. This has led to speculation that the decision may be linked to recent allegations surrounding her brother.

Controversy begins: arrest of a celebrity girl group member’s brother on sexual misconduct allegations

The background to the cancellation stems from a series of controversies involving Jisoo’s older brother.

On the evening of April 14, a man in his 30s, identified as A, the brother of a well-known girl group member, was arrested in the act at a restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul. He is accused of drinking with a female internet broadcaster, referred to as B, after dining together, then taking her to his home and attempting inappropriate physical contact.

It was reported that A had arranged the meeting two days earlier after purchasing a paid “dining date” experience worth approximately 3 million KRW from B.

The Gangnam Police Station filed for an arrest warrant on April 17 on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. However, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office rejected the request, stating that the charges were not sufficiently substantiated.

Following this, online communities quickly began speculating that the individual involved was Jisoo’s older brother. He is reportedly the head of a food-related company and had previously been mentioned in the media during Jisoo’s establishment of her one-person agency, after assisting in the process in a limited capacity despite being a private individual.

Jisoo’s agency responds through legal representatives: “Completely unrelated”

As the controversy escalated, Jisoo’s side issued an official statement through legal counsel.

On April 20, Eun Hyun Ho, a lawyer from the law firm Kim & Chang representing Jisoo’s agency Blissoo, stated: “We express serious regret over the indiscriminate linking of the artist and Blissoo to family-related matters being circulated in some media reports, online communities, and social media, as well as the spread of false information that damages their reputation.”

The statement emphasized that Jisoo has been independent since her trainee days and has long been separated from her family, making it impossible for her to be aware of or involved in the matter concerning the individual in question.

It also clarified that no family member has ever received compensation from Blissoo or participated in its decision-making process, and that the company operates entirely independently.

In a separate statement, Jisoo’s side further stressed that neither Blissoo nor Jisoo provides any financial or legal support to the individual involved and has no intention of doing so in the future. They also stated there has been no interaction or involvement related to the case.

They warned that they would take strong legal action without leniency or settlement against those who create or spread malicious or repeated posts.

Credit line controversy reignites questions

Despite the official denial, the controversy has not subsided. Attention was drawn to the fact that the name of Jisoo’s brother reportedly appeared in the credits of her recent Netflix appearance, 'Boyfriend On Demand,' listed with the title “representative.”

That name has since been removed, with only “Blissoo Entertainment” now shown in the credits, raising suspicions of post-production revision. The production team behind Netflix’s 'Boyfriend On Demand' has stated only that they are “currently verifying the matter.”

Previously, Jisoo’s team had explained that during the agency’s founding process, family members only provided limited advisory input and acted as intermediaries for communication, but were never compensated or involved in decision-making. However, the emergence of the credit listing has led to renewed skepticism about the credibility of that explanation.

Airport press cancellation suggests reduced public exposure

The abrupt cancellation of the airport press event is drawing additional attention in this context. Industry observers suggest the decision may have been made to avoid potential media questioning if Jisoo appeared in a highly public setting while the controversy remains unresolved.

There is also growing curiosity about whether her departure to Paris has been entirely canceled or if only the press event was scrapped while the travel schedule remains unchanged. As of now, Jisoo’s side has not issued any further clarification regarding the travel plan itself.

With both the controversy ongoing and scheduled public appearances being canceled, speculation is growing that she may temporarily minimize official engagements. Since her solo debut in 2023, Jisoo has continued her activities as an actress and artist, while BLACKPINK is expected to embark on a large-scale world tour later this year as a full group.