BLACKPINK member Rose was recently invited to attend the 2026 Spring/Summer Paris Fashion Week, sitting in the front row of the show alongside Western celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Zoe Kravitz, and Charli XCX. However, a group photo sparked controversy when Rose was almost "disappeared" due to being covered in shadow and was entirely cropped out in a post on the official social media account of ELLE UK. Although the magazine quickly apologized afterward, the statement not only failed to appease public outrage but instead triggered accusations of "outright discrimination!"
In response to the criticism, ELLE UK issued an apology yesterday (the 3rd) via Instagram Stories, explaining that the decision to crop the photo was solely based on size considerations and emphasizing that they had no intention of hurting anyone's feelings. They then deleted the post and replaced it with a solo photo of Rose, promising to be more attentive to diversity in the future. However, this statement not only failed to calm the anger, but also led to further doubts about their position. Some fans even pointed out that before the controversy erupted, Charli XCX had posted a photo from the same event where Rose was nearly completely shrouded in shadow, raising suspicions of a "deliberate selection."
Footage of Rose interacting at the event has also circulated online, showing her sitting alone to one side with a slightly awkward expression, in stark contrast to the lively interactions among other celebrities, fueling further speculation that she was "marginalized." While some say it may simply be a matter of lighting and camera angle, most netizens remain unconvinced, harshly criticizing: "She is the first global ambassador for YSL since 1966, yet she can still be erased?" The controversy continues to spread, with #RespectRose rapidly trending across social media worldwide.
Source: Liberty Times