Blackpink's 'How You Like That' Controversy

You click play on a Blackpink video and you’re hit with color, choreography, and swagger. But behind the global success of “How You Like That,” there’s a side of the fandom and the K-pop industry we need to talk about—the controversy over cultural appropriation that exploded after its release.

Blackpink’s “How You Like That” became an instant phenomenon when it dropped on June 26, 2020. Fans around the world watched the YouTube premiere live—1.66 million people at once, which set a new record for the platform’s highest-ever live music video premiere. The video itself racked up 86.3 million views in the first 24 hours, beating every previous YouTube record for a K-pop group. It went on to become the fastest video in YouTube’s history to reach both 100 million, and later, 200 million views. The group—Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa—became the first K-pop girl group to reach one billion streams on Spotify with this single.

People love Blackpink because their music fuses EDM, hip hop, trap, and pop, with lyrics about resilience and confidence. “How You Like That,” composed and produced by Teddy, R.Tee, and 24, is described as “thrillingly bombastic,” with Billboard calling its coda “the most thrilling 30 seconds of pop all year.” Critics from the Los Angeles Times to Consequence of Sound ranked it among the best songs of 2020, and it won Song of Summer at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards. In Malaysia, it became the highest-selling song of the year. In Brazil, it went diamond for 160,000 units, and in Canada, it went double platinum for 160,000 units sold.

But as the world celebrated the song, a storm was brewing within the fandom and beyond. Just hours after the premiere, social media lit up with criticism about a specific scene in the music video. Fans and viewers pointed out that the video included a statue of the Hindu god Ganesha, placed on the floor next to a bejeweled Aladdin lamp in a solo scene featuring Lisa. For many, this was not just a design choice—it was seen as inappropriate and disrespectful, especially because the image of Ganesha is sacred in Hinduism and is not supposed to be placed on the ground or used as a casual prop.

This is where the tension started. Blackpink’s global audience is made up of people from dozens of countries and backgrounds, but the speed and reach of K-pop means that cultural symbols can be picked up and repurposed without a full grasp of their significance. The use of Ganesha in the video was labeled “cultural appropriation” and “disrespect” by fans on Twitter and Instagram, sparking thousands of comments, hashtags, and calls for an apology.

The controversy escalated quickly because Blackpink aren’t just a Korean act—they’re a worldwide brand. Their music videos have global premieres, and their influence extends from Seoul to São Paulo. The criticism didn’t just come from Western fans; a significant portion came from Indian and Southeast Asian fans who felt personally affected.

Within days, YG Entertainment—the label behind Blackpink—quietly edited the music video to remove the Ganesha statue from the scene. The original version showed the statue next to Lisa, but if you watch the video now, that section is altered, with the prop no longer visible. This wasn’t announced publicly; fans noticed the change and circulated side-by-side screenshots to show the edit.

This isn’t the first time K-pop artists have been accused of using cultural elements without proper context or respect, but the sheer size of Blackpink’s platform amplified the backlash. The group’s music videos are directed by Seo Hyun-seung, who also directed their previous singles “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” and “Kill This Love,” both known for their extravagant visuals. In “How You Like That,” the band is shown in locations that echo a jungle, a trapezoidal hall, and the Arctic, all while wearing a series of high-fashion looks. The inclusion of global symbols and styles is part of the appeal, but it also increases the risk of crossing cultural lines.

The impact was immediate for fans who felt their culture was mishandled. Some Indian fans said they felt alienated from a group they’d supported, while others pushed back, arguing that the intention wasn’t malicious—that the statue was meant as an exotic or decorative element, rather than a statement about the religion itself. The debate spilled into wider K-pop fandom spaces, with some fans defending Blackpink and others demanding accountability from the label.

Industry observers pointed out that this wasn’t the first instance of a K-pop act facing this kind of criticism. K-pop’s global rise has brought it into more frequent contact with cultures outside Korea, but industry practices haven’t always caught up with the complexity of international audiences. The speed at which music videos are produced, and the focus on visual impact, means that props and symbols can be chosen for their aesthetic value rather than their cultural meaning. This creates a situation where well-intentioned decisions end up causing offense.

The label’s decision to quietly edit the video out of circulation was seen by some as an admission of error, but it left others frustrated that there was no direct apology or acknowledgment. Some fans argued that editing out the statue was enough, while others wanted a public statement explaining the choice and promising more sensitivity in the future.

The controversy also spread to discussions about double standards and accountability in global pop culture. Some fans wondered why Western artists faced more intense scrutiny for similar issues, while K-pop acts seemed to get away with edits and little comment. Others pointed out that the global nature of Blackpink’s popularity means that any misstep is amplified by the sheer number of people watching.

Beyond the fandom, the debate raised questions about where the line lies between global pop borrowing and cultural appropriation. Is it fair to demand that every international act clear every cultural symbol with experts before using it? Or does the scale of Blackpink’s platform mean they carry a higher obligation to get it right? Critics say that with influence comes responsibility, especially when millions of fans are watching, sharing, and imitating their every move. Supporters push back that the group is not solely responsible for every creative decision, especially when music video direction and prop choices are often handled by producers and stylists rather than the performers themselves.

The community is still split. Some fans continue to celebrate “How You Like That” as a career-defining single, pointing to the group’s record-breaking streaming numbers and awards. Others use it as a case study for the importance of cultural education within K-pop and the need for more diverse voices behind the scenes.

The debate shows no sign of fading. Blackpink’s subsequent releases, including their album “The Album” in 2020, have not included similar controversies, but the “How You Like That” incident remains a reference point in conversations about K-pop’s global expansion and its responsibilities.

Here’s the question: When a global act like Blackpink dominates charts and shapes culture around the world, who gets to decide which symbols are fair game, and what does real accountability look like in the era of viral music and international fandoms?