BLACKPINK’s 10th-anniversary celebrations have taken an unexpectedly sour turn, with apologies from all four members failing to fully calm the criticism surrounding the group. After the anniversary was criticized for its apparent lack of planning and effort, the members eventually addressed BLINKs individually, with Jennie being the latest to speak out after completing her scheduled festival appearances.

The controversy began with growing disappointment over how BLACKPINK marked such a major milestone. Rather than simply celebrating a decade together, fans became increasingly frustrated by what they perceived as insufficient preparation and a lack of meaningful anniversary content. The situation became even more contentious after the members appeared together during a brief live broadcast, where their attitudes reportedly triggered another wave of criticism.

As the backlash intensified, the members began sharing their thoughts and apologies with fans through social media. Jisoo was among those who addressed the situation, while the other members followed with their own messages, eventually creating what appeared to be a collective attempt to acknowledge BLINKs’ disappointment. Jennie later posted her own emotional statement, explaining that she had wanted to finish her previously scheduled festival before speaking more clearly about what had happened.

Jennie emphasized how meaningful BLACKPINK’s decade-long journey has been and expressed gratitude for the fans who supported the group throughout those years. She also acknowledged that the anniversary was supposed to be a happy occasion shared with BLINKs, while admitting that some fans instead walked away feeling disappointed. Her message was emotional and reflective, but it did not completely resolve the frustration that had already taken hold among sections of the fandom.

Instead, the four apologies triggered another round of intense debate online. While some fans appreciated the members finally acknowledging the controversy, others argued that the statements felt like “empty words” without any concrete action to demonstrate that the group understood the seriousness of the disappointment. The central criticism was not necessarily that the members apologized, but that fans wanted to see their actions match those apologies.

Some reactions were particularly dismissive of the statements, with fans saying they remained unconvinced and would not change their feelings simply because the members had posted apologies. Others argued that an apology could only become meaningful if BLACKPINK followed it with visible changes in how they approached future group activities. For these fans, the issue was no longer about finding the right words—it was about whether the members would actually do something differently.

Jisoo’s apology also became part of the debate, with some commenters claiming that hers felt more sincere than the others. That reaction highlights how differently fans are interpreting the members’ individual statements, with some evaluating not only what was said but also the timing, tone and perceived authenticity behind each message. As a result, instead of ending the controversy, the apologies have created another layer of discussion over which member handled the situation best.

There is also a larger issue underneath the anniversary controversy: the expectations surrounding BLACKPINK after ten years as a group. Reaching a decade is an enormous milestone for any K-pop act, and fans appear to have expected the occasion to receive the same level of attention and significance that they associate with BLACKPINK’s status. When those expectations were not met, disappointment quickly transformed into anger, particularly among fans who felt they had waited for a meaningful OT4 celebration.

The reaction also shows how complicated BLACKPINK’s current group dynamic has become. With the members pursuing individual activities and schedules, maintaining the same level of group-focused promotion naturally becomes more difficult. However, that reality has not lowered expectations among fans who still want to see the four members demonstrate that BLACKPINK remains a priority, especially during a milestone as important as its 10th anniversary.

For now, the apologies have done little to create a clear resolution. Some BLINKs have accepted the members’ explanations and are ready to move forward, while others remain openly disappointed and insist that the group needs to prove its commitment through actions rather than additional statements. That divide could continue shaping the conversation around BLACKPINK long after the anniversary itself has passed.

Ultimately, the controversy is no longer simply about whether BLACKPINK apologized. The real question is whether those apologies will be followed by actions convincing enough to restore the trust of disappointed fans, because for a growing section of BLINKs, words are no longer enough—and the next move from all four members may finally reveal whether this anniversary backlash becomes a temporary controversy or a deeper fracture between BLACKPINK and part of its fandom.