The news of BLACKPINK having disbanded returns cyclically, and with impeccable timing, to make its rounds through the K-Pop fandom. Whenever Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa haven’t been seen together for a while, the rumors start to rise up again. And honestly, I would say that they never really quieted down either. Basically, fans of the beloved group live in constant terror that each gap means this time, it’s actually the end.
It’s easy to see why. The four BLACKPINK women have all been busy with their individual solo projects, both musical—like Rosé and Lisa with their solos, and other creative endeavors—like Jisoo with her debut drama, Snowdrop, or Jennie with her fashion collaborations. Their last apparition as a group was the “Lovesick Girls” era in 2020. And since then, photos of the Pinks all together have been pretty scarce, and the only content coming from YG Entertainment has been merchandise (as always, too little and too late after another almost two-year-long hiatus).
So — are BLACKPINK still together?
Let’s clear the air. Yes, BLACKPINK’s still together. Their contract with YG Entertainment doesn’t end until 2023. What will happen from that moment onward is anyone’s guess, but for now, we can still hope for another comeback to enjoy. Or, dare I say it, maybe two? Would that be too much to dream of?
Sadly, this air of uncertainty and scarcity is all part of the BLACKPINK model. As a faithful BLINK since the “As If It’s Your Last” era, I know it all too well. YG Entertainment’s philosophy when it comes to its most successful girl group is to release as little as they can to create as much hype as possible. And that’s how we, as a fandom, ended up in the famous BLACKPINK droughts—where we started turning on each other and haven’t really stopped. I mean, there were almost 500 days between “Kill This Love” and “How You Like That”? And what about the 358 days between “As If It’s Your Last” and “DDU-DU DDU-DU”? Those were some tough times to go through as a BLINK, take my word for it.
Not that any of this reflects on the members. The friendship between Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa has been going strong for ten years, give or take, and I’m sure that I can speak for most BLINKs when I say that I believe it to be solid enough to withstand all of this time apart—and then turn into something explosive when the four of them are on stage, once again, hitting us with that sweet, “ddu-du ddu-du.”
(image: Youtube/YG Entertainment)
