Fans hail BLACKPINK's Jennie as 'the idol' on 'The Idol' amid backlash

K-pop sensation Jennie Kim, known mononymously as Jennie, recently made her acting debut in HBO's controversial series, The Idol. The BLACKPINK member's foray into acting with the show has not been without its fair share of criticism. And the naturally more conservative Korean audience is not taking too positively to her overtly sexual character and performance.

While many have questioned her sensual moves in the show, Jennie's dedicated fan base has come to her defense, supporting her choice to explore new artistic endeavours as an adult performer. In The Idol, she portrays the character of Dyanne, a backup dancer and close friend of the struggling artist Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp.

Introduced in the series' first episode, Jennie is seen dancing amidst a group of men – a scene that has received mixed response from viewers, with many criticising and slut-shaming her. “Oh my God Jennie! what are you doing?” questioned a fan sharing her dance clip. “Such a slut indeed,” commented another. “Doing what she does daily; seduce men,” remarked one more. “Shameless attention seeker women can do anything for money," another tweeted.

Numerous Twitter users, however, have praised Jennie for her performance, dubbing her ‘the idol’ on The Idol. “This is the highlight of The Idol,” a user wrote, sharing a clip of Jennie from the show. “She needs an Emmy for this one,” demanded a fan. “Jennie Ruby Jane is Dyane!” they added. “Watch the idol for the plot,” a user noted while sharing a snippet of Jennie, terming her “the plot”. "First episode of the idol was so bad, the dialogues are so 2015 overdone tumblr template… only entertaining part was watching jennie dancing because everything else was trash," lamented one more.

A fan pointed out, “K-pop stans need to understand that Jennie is a grown woman ‘acting’. these weirdos think female K-pop idols are not normal people like other artists and as grown people they can’t do whatever they want. Imagine how stupid it is to drag a person for playing a role.”

One more tweep schooled all Jennie haters, “I understand hating on the director of The Idol for glorifying rape but slut-shaming Jennie? Come one! Just say y’all hate women being women. If you feel disgusted seeing Jennie do that, please remind yourself that she’s a grown woman, and she doesn’t owe you innocence!”

According to the Viral Takes, Jennie has become the most-followed K-Pop artist on Instagram in the last 24-hours. As per Esquire, the BLACKPINK star's dance scene seems to have nabbed more views than the actual show. E!News tweeted, “A lot can be said about The Idol premiere, but one thing is for sure... Jennie Ruby Jane slayed.” Meanwhile, the Harper’s Bazaar praised Jennie’s performance in the show noting, “One thing we can say for sure is that Jennie from BLACKPINK, definitely stole the show, dancing her way into our hearts as the character, Dyanne. Fans simply cannot get enough of this South Korean megastar.”

Jennie's acting debut in The Idol represents a significant milestone in her career, demonstrating her willingness to step outside her comfort zone and tackle new challenges. Her fans, in particular, have demonstrated unwavering support, acknowledging her artistic growth and defending her against detractors. “I love and admire Jennie so much. It’s so nice to see a K-pop idol that does not care to break these strict, weird standards that the industry be putting on idols. It’s great to see an idol being themselves, using their opportunities and she doesn’t care which is what K-pop needs,” exclaimed a fan, among many others.

As Jennie continues to explore her talents, it is crucial for fans and viewers alike to foster an environment of positivity and encouragement, celebrating the multifaceted abilities of these talented performers.

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