Blackpink Jennie's live vocals at Hong Kong show spark mixed reactions

A performance by Jennie, member of the K-pop group Blackpink, in Hong Kong has drawn mixed reactions over her live vocals.

Jennie, member of the K-pop group Blackpink

According to entertainment news outlet Koreaboo, the singer performed a 10-song solo set at ComplexCon Hong Kong on March 22, including the debut live performance of "Dracula," her latest collaboration with Australian music project Tame Impala. Clips of the performance quickly spread across social media, with some viewers questioning her vocal consistency and pointing to moments where her voice appeared to crack or sound unsteady.

"She’s so off key and doesn’t even know how to breathe properly while singing," one netizen commented. "How is she a professional artist?"

Another wrote: "Within 10 seconds there were two voice cracks and flat notes."

Others, however, were quick to defend the artist, highlighting the demands of live performances and the length of the set.

"That’s Jennie’s eighth set," one user wrote on X.

Another added: "You’ve always hated her for everything."

Amid the debate, event organizers voiced their support. According to Billboard, Complex China CEO Bonnie Chan Woo praised Jennie’s performance: "Jennie's live stages are always so captivating, and it’s clear how much creativity and dedication she brings to every performance."

"For ComplexCon Hong Kong, she went the extra mile by incorporating new, never-before-seen elements into her choreography and staging," she added. "Her presence in Hong Kong, even a year after her solo album release, meant so much."

Born Kim Jennie in Seoul, the 30-year-old singer spent five years studying in New Zealand before returning to South Korea to debut with Blackpink in 2016. She launched her solo career in 2018 with the single "Solo."