Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 9, 2025 · Entertainment

K-Pop Stars Face 'Mean Girl' Snubs in America: Are Western Platforms Ready?

K-pop has officially taken over America, but some of the genre's biggest stars, including BLACKPINK (pictured) are still having trouble getting the respect they deserve in the West

K-POP TAKES OVER AMERICA, BUT CELEBRITIES AND MEDIA STILL STRUGGLING TO GIVE IT THE RESPECT IT DESERVES

The K-pop phenomenon has finally reached American shores, but despite its massive success and popularity, the genre's biggest stars are still facing a barrage of disrespect from celebrities, media outlets, and award shows. The latest incidents have left fans fuming, with some questioning whether the West is truly ready to welcome K-pop into its fold.

ROSÉ'S FASHION WEEK SNUB: A SLAP IN THE FACE FOR BLACKPINK

BLACKPINK star Rosé made headlines last week when she was seemingly snubbed at Paris Fashion Week by both the media and her own celebrity peers

Last week's Paris Fashion Week was a hotbed of controversy when BLACKPINK star Rosé was seemingly snubbed by both the media and her own celebrity peers. Charli XCX and Hailey Bieber were accused of accidentally ignoring the 28-year-old at the Saint Laurent show, while Elle UK faced backlash for cropping Rosé out of a front-row photo from the event.

But what's even more galling is that despite headlining Coachella, selling-out stadiums, and reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 as part of BLACKPINK, Rosé has only 84 million followers on Instagram – compared to Charli XCX and Hailey Bieber's combined total of 80 million. It's a staggering disparity that highlights the industry's failure to recognize K-pop stars' massive global appeal.

LALISA MANOBAL'S OVERLOOKED DEBUT: A SETBACK FOR ASIAN ACTORS IN HOLLYWOOD

Elle UK had to issue a public apology after cropping the APT hitmaker out of a front row photo from the event

But Rosé isn't the only BLACKPINK member who's been overlooked in the States. Her bandmate Lalisa Manobal, aka Lisa, starred in the third season of The White Lotus earlier this year, but was mysteriously snubbed from major acting award nominations.

THE MTV VMAS: WHERE K-POP GOES TO DIE

The MTV Video Music Awards were supposed to be a celebration of music and artistry, but for K-pop fans, it was a night of disappointment and frustration. The fictional girl group HUNTR/X's hit single "Golden" from the animated film Kpop Demon Hunters lost out on Song of the Summer despite being the No. 1 song on the Hot 100 chart for seven weeks straight.

K-pop star and actress Im Yoona was rushed off the red carpet by a female security guard while trying to wave to fans at the Cannes Film Festival last year

It's not just about the music, either – Kpop Demon Hunters is also the most-watched Netflix film of all time and a frontrunner at next year's Oscars. So what could have possibly gone wrong? Was it racism, marginalization, or simply a case of ignorance?

STRAY KIDS' MET GALA CONTROVERSY: A RACIST SHADOW OVER THE FASHION INDUSTRY

At the Met Gala in New York last year, boy band Stray Kids faced a humiliating controversy when photographers began snapping photos of them with mocking captions. One photographer even called the group "robots" because of their serious facial expressions.

Boy band Stray Kids were subjected to very aggressive comments from photographers on the red carpet of the Met Gala last year

The treatment was appalling, especially considering Stray Kids' massive success in the US since 2022 – they've charted seven No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and are one of the most successful boy bands in music history.

THE NEED FOR GREATER CULTURAL INCLUSIVITY: A MESSAGE FROM MUSIC JOURNALIST JEFF BENJAMIN

The scholarlynote.com spoke to music journalist Jeff Benjamin, who author's The Crossover newsletter on Substack. "There's a need for greater cultural inclusivity in Western entertainment spaces," he explained. "Western companies and brands know the influential power of K-pop artists and frequently tap into it, but fans still regularly feel that their favorite artists are largely marginalized."

K-pop fans were left outraged last month after the mega hit Golden, from Netflix's Kpop Demon Hunters , lost out on winning Song of the Summer at the MTV VMAs

Benjamin notes that fans perceive any slight against their idols as disrespect, regardless of origin – whether from powerful magazines, influential celebrities, or major award shows. "Racism and marginalization is not an experience limited to K-pop stars but many people," he added. "When fans raise their voices about these topics, it's wise for brands to pay attention."

A NEW ERA FOR K-POP IN AMERICA?

Despite the setbacks, there are signs that the industry is slowly starting to recognize the value of K-pop. The stars of Kpop Demon Hunters performed their chart-topping hit "Golden" on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this week, and Korean girl group TWICE have just been announced as headliners for the upcoming Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Kpop Demon Hunters is also the most-watched Netflix film of all time and is a frontrunner at next year's Oscars

Multiple K-pop artists, including Girls' Generation and NewJeans, also made Rolling Stone's list of The 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far. But until true equality is achieved in Western entertainment spaces, fans will continue to speak out against racism and marginalization – and demand respect for their idols.

As Benjamin so aptly put it, "There needs to be opportunities and open-mindedness for these artists to be seen and heard on an equal level as any traditional English-speaking, Western act." Only time will tell if the West is ready to take K-pop seriously.