In the upcoming documentary Always Lalisa, releasing in cinemas on October 12, K-pop superstar Lisa Manobal opens up about the intense scrutiny she faced following the emergence of controversial footage. The clips, which surfaced last year, featured the Blackpink member as a teenage trainee, showing her singing along to US rap songs that included the n-word. While some fans called for a public apology at the time, the group’s record label prohibited the members from issuing any statements. As leaked videos show Blackpink using racial slurs when they were teenage trainees in the K-pop system, the film captures an unfolding controversy. Instead, Lisa lay down on a sofa and spoke from the heart.
Director Sue Kim, who was granted extensive access to the singer during her transition to a solo career, captured the moment the scandal escalated while Lisa was in rehearsals for her 2025 Coachella performance. Kim described encouraging the star to speak openly despite the label’s restrictions. Rather than offering a rehearsed PR response, a candid Lisa explained that she was only 15 or 16 when those recordings were made. She admitted that she did not understand the sensitivity of the term at the time, noting that as a Thai native whose first language is not English, she had only encountered the word in music. What’s it like to be the main character of an online scandal. The scandal blew up while Lisa was rehearsing for a pivotal performance at the Coachella Festival in 2025. Documentarian Sue Kim followed Lisa into her dressing room, with Lisa’s team in crisis mode. But this is your time to say whatever you want to say – even if you’re just processing your thoughts and telling us what you’re feeling,” Kim tells, i know you guys are wildly confused and hurt. She was unaware of its offensive history, having only heard the term in rap music.
“Now I would never ever do that because, now, I’ve got education,” Lisa stated in the film. “Now I know better.” Kim emphasized that this unscripted reaction was one of the most significant scenes in the documentary, noting that the lack of media training or premeditation allowed for a rare, genuine moment of vulnerability. Lisa has since provided a public apology in an interview with Variety, though public sentiment has remained divided.
The incident coincided with the launch of Lisa’s debut solo album, Alter Ego, and she faced significant pressure, including death threats. Throughout the ordeal, the star struggled with the weight of the backlash while attempting to move forward with her professional commitments. The documentary also explores Lisa’s decision to shift away from the restrictive K-pop environment. After years with the Korean agency YG, she signed with US-based RCA Records to pursue wider artistic freedom.
Kim observed that Lisa’s time working in the US entertainment industry, particularly on the third season of the television series The White Lotus, shifted her perspective. Unlike the K-pop system, which maintains strict codes regarding personal conduct and dating, the American production environment allowed her more autonomy. The show’s producers noted that she embraced this newfound freedom, even hosting parties during filming in her home country of Thailand.
The transition to a solo artist was not without challenges. The film portrays a vulnerable side of the singer, documenting her nerves in the studio and her process of finding an independent voice. Kim remarked that seeing the star move from a hesitant trainee to an artist reclaiming her agency was a central narrative arc. Lisa’s move to act in The White Lotus was another step in this evolution, requiring her to self-tape an audition for her role as wellness coach Mook Sornsin.
Despite the documentary being commissioned by her record label—a factor that brings inevitable marketing polish—the director insists that Lisa remained remarkably transparent. Kim credited the singer for allowing extensive access and noted that she never requested the removal of any scenes, including those capturing her most difficult moments. As she balances her status as a global icon with the pursuit of a more personal life, the film portrays an artist who is actively navigating the complexities of fame and accountability.
