BLACKPINK's Jennie Faces Brutal Backlash Over 'Off-Key' and 'Breathless' Vocals During The Weeknd Duet

BLACKPINK's Jennie has come under fire over her live vocals after joining The Weeknd for a surprise duet in South Korea, with online critics accusing the K-pop superstar of singing off-key, sounding breathless and struggling to keep up with the Canadian singer. The performance has sparked debate online, with some viewers questioning Jennie's singing ability and making allegations about her reliance on lip-syncing.

Jennie's 'Off-Key' Vocals Spark Backlash During The Weeknd Concert

The controversy followed Jennie's surprise appearance at The Weeknd's concert at Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province on Thursday, 8 October.

The BLACKPINK member joined the singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, to perform their 2023 collaboration 'One of the Girls' during his South Korean concert. While the appearance delighted fans, footage circulating on social media attracted criticism of Jennie's vocal delivery.

An X post alleged that her voice trembled and went off-key several times throughout the performance, despite her remaining relatively still onstage. The account also claimed she appeared out of breath and struggled to maintain consistent vocals.

Similar criticism emerged on Reddit, where some viewers questioned her pitch control and vocal stamina.

These assessments reflect individual opinions rather than independently established findings about Jennie's vocal abilities.

The Weeknd Duet Fuels Claims Jennie Abruptly Stopped Singing

Another allegation centred on an interaction between Jennie and The Weeknd towards the end of their duet. A critical X post claimed that Tesfaye encouraged Jennie to sing along with him, only for her to stop singing shortly afterwards. The poster interpreted the moment as evidence that Jennie was uncomfortable performing without vocal assistance.

However, that interpretation remains speculative, and the footage does not independently establish why she stopped singing.

Reports covering the concert described the artists exchanging vocal lines and ad-libs before ending their performance with an embrace.

The Weeknd continued his concert after Jennie's guest appearance, contradicting suggestions that the entire show was abruptly halted.

BLACKPINK Star Faces Lip-Syncing Allegations Over Live Performance

The criticism also prompted questions among some online commenters about Jennie's ability to sing live without recorded vocal support.

One X post alleged that she struggled without lip-syncing, while others compared her vocal delivery with The Weeknd's performance.

However, available reports do not establish that Jennie was lip-syncing during the duet.

Vocal instability during a live performance is not, by itself, proof that an artist relies on prerecorded vocals.

The backlash reflects the scrutiny surrounding K-pop performers, whose live singing, choreography and stage presence frequently become subjects of online debate.

Jennie and The Weeknd Reunite for 'One of the Girls'

The duet marked a reunion for the artists following their collaboration on 'One of the Girls', which also features actress Lily-Rose Depp.

The track appeared on the soundtrack of HBO's 2023 drama The Idol, in which Jennie made her acting debut. Their Goyang performance gave audiences an opportunity to see the collaborators share the stage.

Following the song, Jennie thanked Tesfaye before leaving the stage, while the pair shared a hug.

The performance also attracted positive attention from fans celebrating their reunion, even as criticism of Jennie's vocals circulated online.