BLACKPINK’s Lisa recently generated significant buzz online following a public sighting in Thailand, where she is spending time with family and friends during a break in the group’s “DEADLINE” world tour.
The location is strategic, as the next stop is Singapore, allowing the idol to enjoy time at home.
The sighting gained immediate viral traction when video clips and images circulated of Lisa shopping and trying on hats alongside a woman and a man.
The speed and intensity of the social media reaction led one viral tweet to immediately label the pair “couple goals,” sparking widespread speculation of a new romance.
This speculation arose despite the ongoing, persistent rumors linking Lisa to LVMH heir, Frédéric Arnault.
However, the identity of the man in question quickly confirmed that the online gossip was unfounded.
The male celebrity with Lisa is “Blue” Pongtiwat Tangwancharoen, a well-known 25-year-old Thai actor, singer, and model who is currently under Channel 3.
“Blue” Pongtiwat Tangwancharoen (Credit: YouTube)
Blue Pongtiwat is recognized for his roles in Thai dramas such as Ready, Set, Love, ntern in My Heart, and Happy New Year.
The article clarifies that Lisa and Blue Pongtiwat are, in fact, close friends. Their friendship is well-established, with the actor previously having attended BLACKPINK’s concert date in Thailand and having been photographed with Lisa backstage.
Furthermore, he is reportedly seen with the idol frequently whenever she returns to Thailand, underscoring their genuine platonic relationship.
The speculative romance narrative was quickly met with significant criticism from a portion of the fanbase.
Many online users took to social media to firmly push back against the rush to link two friends romantically, emphasizing that platonic friendships between male and female celebrities are perfectly normal.
One common thread of criticism accused some fans of being “male starved” or “delulu” (delusional), asserting that they are “forcing men on Lisa.”
Other fans highlighted that the fandoms of Lisa’s groupmates—Jisoo, Jennie, and Rosé—do not typically engage in this type of speculation regarding their friends.
A separate point of rebuttal was based on age, with one tweet noting that Blue Pongtiwat is three years younger than Lisa, concluding that
“Lisa doesn’t date guys who are younger than her.”
In essence, the viral posts, fueled by a simple public sighting, created a fleeting moment of dating speculation, which was then refuted by both the facts of their known, long-standing friendship and a clear pushback from fans against the habit of romanticizing platonic celebrity interactions.
The tumultuous internal situation involving HYBE, its subsidiary ADOR, and the girl group NewJeans reached a new peak with the announcement of a truck protest organized by the group’s dedicated fandom, known as Bunnies.
On November 24, 2025 KST, a fan collective operating under the name “NewJeansTruckTaskTeam” declared their intent to stage the demonstration, signaling profound dissatisfaction with the handling of the ongoing conflict and the perceived neglect of the artists by both ADOR and its parent company, HYBE.
This fan action is set against a complex backdrop of corporate uncertainty, delayed comebacks, and mounting tension between the fandoms of the multiple groups managed under the massive entertainment conglomerate.
Fandom’s Condemnation and Demands for Transparency
The core issue fueling the NewJeans fandom’s protest is the perceived failure of the management agencies to uphold their fundamental duty of protecting the five members: Minji, Hanni , Danielle , Haerin, and Hyein.
In their official statement, the “NewJeansTruckTaskTeam” expressed sharp condemnation, stating,
“Although ADOR’s long-awaited goal of bringing NewJeans back is becoming a reality, what we are seeing instead is the company’s unclear stance and distorted media play.”
NewJeans (Credit: YouTube)
They argued that “irresponsible speculative reports” are directly pushing the artists into the center of unnecessary public controversy, which the agency is failing to shield them from.
The fans asserted a powerful principle of accountability:
“A company that neglects its duty to protect its artists cannot claim its rights as an agency.”
The truck protest—a common and highly visible form of fan activism in the K-pop industry—is intended to be a direct and unavoidable message to the management.
The key demands issued by the Bunnies collective include:
- Immediate fulfillment of the company’s basic duty to protect the artists.
- An end to neglect and unproductive media warfare.
- Transparent disclosure of all legal response measures taken against malicious commentators and rumor generators.
The fandom specifically called for “concrete and transparent updates that fans can accept,” such as information on identifying offenders, the progress of legal complaints, and the closure of accounts that systematically generate malicious rumors.
They underscored that guaranteeing and protecting the personal rights of the members is the first essential step toward restoring trust and remains the agency’s “fundamental responsibility.”
Uncertainty Surrounding NewJeans’ Return Status
Adding to the fan dissatisfaction is the ambiguity surrounding NewJeans’ official comeback and the status of the members’ return to ADOR.
Following the major corporate upheaval between HYBE and ADOR’s leadership, all five members of NewJeans reportedly expressed their intention to return to the subsidiary label.
However, ADOR’s subsequent official communication has only confirmed the return of two members, Haerin and Hyein, while stating it is still “verifying the intent” of the remaining members (Minji, Hanni, and Danielle).
This lack of clarity and slow movement on a crucial decision point has exacerbated fan anxiety and fueled the perception that the management is mishandling the situation, leaving the members exposed during a period of intense public scrutiny.
Escalating Inter-Fandom Conflict Within HYBE
Just days prior, on November 20th, fans of HYBE groups LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT staged their own truck protest directly in front of HYBE’s Yongsan headquarters.
The groups’ fans were explicitly criticizing NewJeans’ return and demanding stronger protection and anti-harassment measures for their own artists, who they feel have been negatively affected by the long-standing corporate dispute.
This situation demonstrates a worrying descent into open “media warfare” not just between companies, but between the fan communities themselves.
The fandom protests highlight a shared demand for proactive, visible corporate action, as silence and inaction are deemed by the protesting fans to be “complicity” in the attacks against the artists.
The NewJeans fandom, reiterating their “unwavering” support for all five members, is now preparing its protest slogans, ensuring their demonstration is the next powerful public statement in this complex and critical period for the fate of one of K-pop’s leading girl groups.
