BlackPink fans were left bewildered on Sunday night when one of the group’s members walked off stage mid-show and didn’t return.
The four-piece K-pop girl group, formed in 2016, were performing in Melbourne, Australia when the incident took place, leaving spectators stunned.
The South Korean pop band achieved international success with their debut record The Album and recently scored a number one single in Australia.
Currently in the middle of a worldwide tour, the How You Like That hitmakers are set to hit the UK on July 2 as part of the British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park.
Jennie Kim, 27, rapper and singer in the group, departed the stage at the Rod Laver arena after five songs, leaving the other three members to finish the gig.
Lisa Manobal, 26, Kim Jisoo, 28, and Rose Park, 26, completed the remainder of the two-hour set without Jennie, who reportedly left the stage due to illness.
Footage of the incident circulated on social media, with Rose informing the crowd: ‘It seems that we will be proceeding with the rest of the show without Jennie.’
Rose continued: ‘However, we will try our best to fill the stage up for you guys and give you the best night so don’t worry about that.’
She then said that the group’s hearts would be with Jennie before a spontaneous chant of Jennie’s name rose up from the Australian crowd.
After the show, it emerged that Jennie had been absent from the soundcheck earlier in the day and that she had been resting up before the show.
The band’s management stated: ‘We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to all the fans who [supported] BlackPink and attended the event.’
It was said afterwards that Jennie wished to return to the stage but was advised against it by venue staff, who encouraged her to take a break.
With their upcoming show at Hyde Park, BlackPink will become the , performing alongside Bruce Springsteen.
