Documentary Reveals K-Pop Star Lisa Manobal's Candid Reaction to Racial Slur Scandal

Filmmaker Sue Kim has offered an inside look at the making of her documentary, "Always Lalisa," which captures K-pop phenomenon Blackpink's Lisa Manobal navigating a significant racial slur controversy. The film chronicles the period when leaked rehearsal videos surfaced, showing the group as teenage trainees using racial slurs while covering American rap songs. The explicit language, including the n-word, was left uncensored in the clips.

The controversy erupted as Lisa was preparing for a major performance at the Coachella Festival in 2025. While some fans called for an apology, the group's record label reportedly prohibited the members from issuing a public statement. During this intense period, director Sue Kim gained unprecedented access to Lisa, capturing her in a dressing room.

"I said, 'Look, I know this is new. I know you guys are wildly confused and hurt, but this is your time to say whatever you want to say - even if you're just processing your thoughts and telling us what you're feeling,'" Kim told the BBC, noting she initially expected Lisa to decline the interview.

Instead, Lisa responded with raw honesty. "It's bad," she stated in the documentary, expressing a mix of shame and nervousness. At the time the videos were filmed, Lisa explained she was "15 or 16" and, being from Thailand and not a native English speaker, was unaware of the word's sensitivity. Having only encountered the term in rap music, she did not understand its offensive historical context. "Now I would never ever do that because, now, I've got education," she said. "Now I know better. But I did wrong."

Kim highlighted this moment as pivotal, emphasizing the absence of media training or pre-meditation in Lisa's response. "I asked her one question and she just talked for an hour, and everything came out, and it's all stream of consciousness," Kim recalled. "And what you see with Lisa in that moment is so genuine, it's impossible not to feel compassion for her."

The incident overshadowed the launch of Lisa's debut solo album, "Alter Ego." The documentary depicts Lisa receiving death threats and grappling with safety concerns while continuing public appearances. "To a certain extent I have to take [criticism] and compromise," she shared in the film, "but sometimes, it's too much."

The film, commissioned by the film division of Lisa's record label, also explores her ambition for crossover success in the Western music market. Despite her global fame, brand deals with luxury houses, and millions in record sales, Lisa felt constrained by the K-pop system, which imposed restrictions on personal relationships and activities.

"I don't want my dating to be the thing to hurt Blackpink's popularity. But when I turned 25, I realised that this is not how you're supposed to live your life," Lisa says in the documentary. This realization led her to leave YG Entertainment and sign with RCA Records in the U.S.

"Knowing her as I do, that took an immense amount of courage," said Kim. "Having been trained in the K-pop system from an early age, she grew acclimatised to obedience. Declaring that she wants a break is such a disruption to that way of life that I can only imagine it must have been building inside her for years."

The documentary also portrays Lisa's challenges in asserting herself creatively and her nerves about her vocal performance. Kim observed a gradual shift in Lisa's confidence during filming, noting how she began to "slowly starting to unfold her wings. Making mistakes, but also getting back up on the horse."

Lisa's pursuit of acting led her to secure a role in the TV drama "The White Lotus." On set, she embraced a more relaxed personal life, with the show's executive producer noting that Lisa hosted parties featuring tequila shots.

The film concludes in June 2025, with Lisa returning to Seoul and rejoining Blackpink. Kim described Lisa's state as "bittersweet," reflecting on her year of newfound freedom and the concern about retaining it. "I don't think people should take it as like, 'Oh, she hates Blackpink'. It's more that she was reflecting on this year of freedom and worrying that she wouldn't be able to retain that. And that's a very astute fear to have."

Lisa has since publicly apologized for the incident in an interview with Variety, though some public reception remained mixed. "Always Lalisa" premiered in cinemas on October 12.