Occupied Palestine (QNN)- BLACKPINK’s Jennie, one of the world’s most popular idols, has faced backlash over her Adidas Israel promotional campaign, with fans accusing her of being a “supporter of genocide” and calling for a boycott of the K-pop star.
A post from Adidas Israel dating back to 2025 has resurfaced, sharing photos from Jennie’s latest promotional campaign with the brand.
The post sparked outrgae due to the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 72,000 Plaestinians, used starvation as a weapon of war, forcibly displaced most of the population and wiped out entire neighborhoods.
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The comments section of the post was flooded with backlash and calls for her to withdraw, with many accusing her of supporting Israel.
The backlash soon spread to X, where fans debated Jennie’s involvement. Some said that her participation in Adidas promotions appeared on Israel-specific social media accounts.
On the other hand, BLACKPINK fans pointed out that Jennie’s Adidas partnership is part of a global campaign. Because of this, promotional images are often distributed across many regional Adidas accounts, including those in different countries.
Boycott calls have also come amid an online criticism over BTS’s associations with multinational corporations that maintain an active social media presence in Israel. One example that drew significant attention was an image of Kim Nam-joon (RM) appearing on the official page of Samsung Israel in 2025.
Last year, BTS member V received criticism following the announcement of his new role as brand ambassador for Coca-Cola Korea. The move sparked outrage due to Coca-Cola’s inclusion in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement list. The beverage company is one among many currently boycotted companies due to its support for Israeli settlement in Gaza.
Comments about V’s ambassadorship from fans on social media express disappointment and accuse V of indirectly supporting the brand’s involvement in Gaza. Some users noted the irony of V wearing a bracelet associated with Palestinian solidarity in the campaign images, questioning whether he was aware of the brand's boycott status.
Meanwhile, supporters defended V, emphasising that Coca-Cola Korea operates independently and has previously stated a neutral stance on political matters. However, many critics argue that such distinctions are insignificant when dealing with globally recognised corporate identities.
This controversy follows similar criticism aimed at other celebrities, including BTS member Jungkook, for engaging with brands listed in the BDS campaign.
Since the Israeli genocide in Gaza began, more artists have used their unique influence to amplify support for Gaza.
According to No Music for Genocide, over 1000 artists and labels have geo-blocked and removed their music from Israel in response to the “genocide in Gaza; occupation and ethnic cleansing of the West Bank; apartheid; political repression of Pro-Palestine efforts; and the music industry's own ties to weapons and crimes against humanity” as part of the international initiative.
