BLACKPINK member Rosé has responded with characteristic grace and professionalism following a racism controversy that erupted after a major fashion magazine cropped her out of a group photo from a Paris fashion show. The K-pop star chose to address the situation indirectly by sharing appreciation for the fashion brand while maintaining her dignity throughout the ordeal.
On Wednesday, Rosé posted photos from the Saint Laurent 2026 Spring/Summer womenswear show on her social media, where she had appeared as the brand's global ambassador. The singer shared a video of models walking the runway and tagged Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello with a heartfelt message: "Thank you for inviting me to another incredible show. Your work is so beautiful. Love you." The post demonstrated her continued commitment to her professional relationships despite the surrounding controversy.
The controversy began following Monday's Saint Laurent show in Paris, where Rosé was photographed alongside prominent celebrities including Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, and Charli XCX. When Elle UK published coverage of the event, the magazine uploaded a group photo that had been cropped to exclude only Rosé, even though other fashion outlets published the complete image showing all four stars together. The selective editing immediately sparked outrage among fans and observers who viewed the decision as racially motivated.
Fans and critics quickly accused Elle UK of racism, arguing that singling out and erasing only the Korean artist from the photograph was completely unacceptable and sent a troubling message about Asian representation in the fashion industry. Many pointed out that Rosé has been Saint Laurent's global ambassador since 2020 and has established herself as one of the most influential figures in luxury fashion, making her exclusion even more problematic and inexplicable.
Industry observers noted that the incident highlighted ongoing issues with representation and inclusion in fashion media, particularly regarding Asian celebrities and models. Critics emphasized that excluding Rosé, who holds significant influence in both music and fashion, demonstrated a concerning pattern of marginalization that needed to be addressed by major publications.
Rather than engaging directly with the controversy or making public statements about the incident, Rosé maintained her characteristic poise and professionalism. Her decision to focus on positive messaging and gratitude toward Saint Laurent showed her mature approach to handling difficult situations while continuing to support the brands and creative teams she works with.
Rosé's influence extends far beyond the fashion world into global entertainment. Last year, her collaborative song "APT." with Bruno Mars achieved historic success by winning Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, making her the first K-pop artist ever to receive this prestigious honor. This achievement further solidified her status as a trailblazing artist who continues to break barriers and represent Korean culture on the international stage.
The incident has reignited conversations about diversity and representation in fashion media, with many calling for greater awareness and accountability from major publications when covering events featuring artists from diverse backgrounds. Rosé's graceful handling of the situation has been widely praised as an example of maintaining dignity while navigating challenging circumstances in the public eye.
