BLINKs are calling out a local news station in Australia for using an image of a recent BLACKPINK concert for an unrelated drug bust that took place over the weekend.
According to a report by Daily Mail, BLINKs are up in arms against local network Channel Nine for using images and footages from a BLACKPINK concert after the arrest of five people on Sunday afternoon related to drug charges after the I AM HARSTYLE dance festival. The dance event took place at the same venue that BLACKPINK performed at on a different date.
Fans immediately called out the network for irresponsible journalism and defamation for the use of the footage and for implying that the drug bust happened at the BLACKPINK concert in Sydney. Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo, and Rose held their concert at the Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday.
Trending the topic #Channel9ApologiseToBLACKPINK, BLINKs shared their pleasure about Channel Nine's actions and called for an apology for casting BLACKPINK and their fans in a bad light by implying that the drug bust had anything to do with the Kpop idol group.
On Facebook, fans shared screenshots of the news report and turned the tables on Channel Nine which indicated in its report that the drug bust happened after BLACKPINK's Your Area World Tour leg in Sydney. BLINKs even asked for other fandoms' help in trending #Channel9ApologiseToBLACKPINK so that the network would take responsibility for their unverified reporting.
Some fans were even threatening defamation charges against Channel Nine for their gaffe and tagged the account of YG Entertainment so that the agency could act on the malicious news about BLACKPINK.
BLACKPINK is currently performing in Asia and Australia for their Your Area World Tour to promote their global megahit Kill This Love. Even before arriving in Sydney, the venues that Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rose will be performing were already sold out weeks before their tour dates. After Australia, the girls will be Asia-bound again to perform a three-night concert in Bangkok's Impact Area on July 12-14.
While overseas, it seems that BLACKPINK has been shielded from the fresh scandals that have rocked YG Entertainment last week. Fans are especially sensitive on the issue of drugs after a new Dispatch expose linking iKON leader B.I to an attempt to purchase drugs in 2016.
As a result, B.I has issued a public apology and announced his departure from iKON and the agency. Over the weekend, YG Entertainment founder Yang Hyun Suk also announced his resignation from all positions with YG amid public censure on the agency's alleged involvement in illegal activities.
