What happened at Paris Fashion Week?
When BLACKPINK’s Rosé showed up at Saint Laurent’s Spring/Summer 2026 show in Paris, she wasn’t just another A-lister in the crowd. As the brand’s global ambassador, she shared the frame with stars like Charli XCX, model Hailey Bieber, and actress Zoë Kravitz. But when ELLE UK uploaded behind-the-scenes snapshots from the event, they sparked controversy instead of applause.
The issue? Rosé was mysteriously missing
In a now-deleted post on Instagram, ELLE UK featured a group photo—but Rosé had been cropped out. Fans immediately took notice, flooding the comments with accusations of erasure and racial bias. To make matters worse, none of the other uploaded photos included her, even though she was clearly present at the event.
Backlash from fans and media alike
The fashion outlet found itself at the center of a growing storm, as not only K-pop fans but also international media questioned the editorial choice. Fans accused the magazine of deliberately excluding Rosé, especially in a photo where other (non-Asian) stars remained prominently featured.
ELLE UK issues an official apology
After mounting pressure, ELLE UK responded on June 2 (local time) by posting a solo image of Rosé and issuing a formal statement: “We sincerely apologize for cropping BLACKPINK’s Rosé out of the group photo in a recent post about Paris Fashion Week. This was a photo sizing error with absolutely no intention to offend.”
They added, “The post has been removed, and we are committed to ensuring our coverage reflects the diversity of our valued audience.”
But that wasn’t the end of it
Just when you thought it couldn’t get messier, Charli XCX also found herself under fire. The singer posted an edited image to her social media, which appeared to darken Rosé’s appearance unnaturally—further fanning the flames of controversy.
Why this matters
This incident isn’t just about one photo. It’s a reminder of the subtle—and sometimes not-so-subtle—ways Asian representation can be minimized in global media. K-pop is a cultural powerhouse, and its stars deserve better treatment on international platforms. Rosé’s fans are asking for accountability, and it looks like they’re being heard. For now.
