BLACKPINK Lisa Admits She Feared 'Being Put Back in a Box' by YG After Going Solo

BLACKPINK's Lisa has revealed she feared being 'put back in a box' by YG Entertainment after spending a year away from the group's activities and gaining greater freedom to explore her artistry, according to accounts from viewers of her new documentary Always Lalisa.

The revelation sheds light on the singer's struggle with confidence in her singing and comes as her documentary prepares for its worldwide cinema release. The film follows the pivotal period when Lisa stepped away from BLACKPINK for a year of independence, pursuing solo music, acting and other creative projects.

Lisa Feared Returning to YG's Old 'Box'

According to accounts from viewers who attended the documentary's Toronto International Film Festival premiere, Lisa said she worried that returning to South Korea after her year away could put her back into a 'box.'

The comment appears to describe her fear of losing the artistic freedom she developed during her solo period. It was not presented as a claim that YG had explicitly decided to restrict her again, but as Lisa's concern about returning to an environment she associated with earlier limitations.

That fear was closely tied to her confidence in singing, which she reportedly said had been affected during her trainee years.

YG Trainee Experience Affected Lisa's Confidence

Viewers reported that the documentary revisits an incident in which Lisa was made to redo an entire dance practice video because she was singing rather than rapping.

According to accounts of the film, the experience affected her confidence in singing for years. Lisa reportedly did not feel confident enough to explore that side of her artistry again until her year away from BLACKPINK's group activities.

The revelation provides important context for her fear of being put 'back in a box.' Rather than suggesting she wanted to leave BLACKPINK, the account points to concerns about the creative limitations she associated with her earlier trainee experience.

Lisa Found Freedom During Her Solo Career

Lisa's year away from BLACKPINK gave her an opportunity to explore an identity beyond her established role in the group.

During that period, she worked on her debut solo album Alter Ego, made her acting debut in HBO's The White Lotus and prepared for her solo Coachella performance. Reuters reported that Always Lalisa follows this period as a year of independence and self-discovery.

The documentary therefore presents her solo career as more than a collection of individual projects. It captures a period in which Lisa was able to explore different aspects of her artistry away from the expectations surrounding her BLACKPINK role.

BLACKPINK Returned After Lisa's Solo Period

Lisa later returned to BLACKPINK, with the group releasing its third mini-album DEADLINE on 27 February 2026. The comeback came more than three years after BLACKPINK's previous full-group release.

Lisa rejoined BLACKPINK in February following her solo period, with DEADLINE marking the group's first mini-album in more than three years.

That timeline gives Lisa's documentary revelation added context. Her fear of being put 'back in a box' came after she had experienced greater independence as a solo artist, rather than before the group's latest return.

Lisa Continues To Value BLACKPINK

Despite those concerns about returning to an environment associated with her trainee years, Lisa has continued her BLACKPINK activities while developing her individual career.

Her comments therefore appear to distinguish between her commitment to the group and her desire for greater creative freedom as an individual artist.

Always Lalisa, directed by Sue Kim, is scheduled for a worldwide cinema release on 12 October 2026. The film follows Lisa's 2024–2025 period before her return to BLACKPINK.