Singapore's National Stadium drew tens of thousands of fans for BLACKPINK's three-day Deadline tour stop beginning Nov. 28, but the first night's subdued audience reaction has ignited a sprawling online debate about concert culture in the city-state. Viral videos showing rows of seated concertgoers and an early exit by fans before the encore triggered criticism from international BLINKS and renewed scrutiny of Singapore crowds, who have previously been accused of low energy at major events.
One widely circulated clip captured Rosé addressing the audience directly. "and Singapore, I know you're a bit shy. It's either you're shy, or you're too busy shooting on your phone," she told the stadium as performers attempted to raise engagement. Footage posted by fans showed parts of the arena where attendees sat with arms crossed during key numbers, prompting questions about venue rules that reportedly prohibited standing or dancing in some sections.
The fan who recorded the video described the experience as unusually flat for a group of BLACKPINK's size. The post criticized attendees, writing, "THE MOST BORING CROWD EVER...CROWDS WERE DEAD!!!" and questioned why fans purchased tickets "if you don't know the song, you're not singing or vibing to them." The user contrasted the atmosphere with the more animated audiences in Jakarta and Bulacan earlier in the tour.
Additional clips showed attendees leaving before the encore, worsening perceptions that the first-night show struggled to capture energy inside the 55,000-seat venue. Online reactions from BLINKS amplified the criticism. One self-identified Singaporean wrote, "Singaporean crowds are horribleee and I'm saying this as a Singaporean...We're just dead." Another fan said they were reprimanded for standing at a past concert, adding, "HOW DO U EXPECT ANYONE TO GO TO A CONCERT N SIT DOWN N BE SILENT."
Not all comments blamed the audience. Some defended the quieter atmosphere, noting that attendees prefer to "hear BLACKPINK's voice, and not some out-of-tune people screaming." One commenter shifted the responsibility to performers, writing, "maybe it's the artist who failed to bring the hype...If they're good enough, they can even hype a statue."
The discussion broadened as fans referenced similar experiences at other Singapore concerts by Coldplay, Twice and Taylor Swift. A concertgoer recalled attending shows for Shinee and Taemin, saying the crowd was equally muted. "The aunty beside me was just holding on to her lightstick and staring at Taemin quietly," the person wrote, noting that only a handful of attendees in their row showed visible enthusiasm.
The mood shifted significantly by the second and third nights of BLACKPINK's run. Fans who attended later dates reported a stronger response, with Rosé allegedly telling the crowd that Day 2 was "five times better" than the opening show. By the final performance, social media posts described the Singapore leg as having "ended better than how it started," softening the backlash surrounding the initial audience reaction.
Jennie, Rosé, Lisa and Jisoo now have more than a month before the tour resumes in Tokyo, where they are scheduled to perform from Jan. 16 to Jan. 18.
