BLACKPINK's Jennie, who faced controversy last year over indoor smoking, has revealed that she experienced burnout during her group's active period, leaving her completely drained of energy.
On the October 7th episode of tvN's variety show 'You Quiz on the Block,' Jennie appeared as a guest and candidly shared her experiences.
Jennie, who studied abroad in New Zealand at the age of 10, was offered the chance to study in the U.S. by her mother when she was 14. However, she decided to pursue music with YG Entertainment in Korea, auditioning privately and becoming a trainee just a month after returning. She began her trainee life at 15 and debuted as a member of BLACKPINK in 2016 at the age of 21 after six years of preparation.
In 2019, BLACKPINK embarked on a world tour and became the first K-pop idol group to perform at Coachella. Reflecting on that time, Jennie said, "We got really busy during the world tour. With my first solo song out, my schedule doubled, leaving me no time to take care of myself. I was young and didn't know how to manage my health. My health deteriorated, I lost a lot of weight, and I injured my ankle." During this period, Jennie had to rely on an ankle brace and a cane due to her declining health.
Jennie confessed, "After debuting, I just kept running. I didn't go out much, and it must have been mentally exhausting. On broadcasts, people would say 'You're cool,' but I couldn't interact with the friends I love and cherish, making me feel like I couldn't do my job. I started to blame myself and view things negatively. One day, I hit zero. I felt like I had no energy left, and it was a big concern."
She continued, "I always thought of myself as someone full of love and affection, who doesn't like negative emotions. But there was a time when that was all my life was about. I felt like I was only saying and doing things that weren't nice. I felt like I was only hurting the people I love. I delved into those emotions and reflected on myself while looking at my fellow members. They were doing well, and I wondered why I was the only one struggling."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennie was forced to take a break, which allowed her to recharge. She shared, "I became a hobby enthusiast during that time. I did different hobbies from Monday to Sunday. For someone who claims to love music, I did a lot of things outside of music," she said with a laugh.
Jennie also mentioned, "Since I started my own company and began working independently, I've prioritized my health above all else."
Previously, in July of last year, Jennie was embroiled in controversy over a scene in a YouTube video where she appeared to be vaping indoors during a makeup session at an Italian fashion show. Her agency, OA, apologized to everyone who felt uncomfortable and stated that Jennie had reflected on the incident and personally apologized to the staff affected.
Reported by Sojung Lee, TenAsia forusojung@tenasia.co.kr