Being First K-pop Artist to Headline Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Will Lisa Cause Controversy?
On September 19, Lisa’s agency, LLOUD (BLACKPINK), officially confirmed that she will be the headlining artist at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, scheduled for October 15 (local time).
Announcing the special appearance of the global star, Victoria’s Secret excitedly shared: “No more waiting! The final performer in our all-female lineup is none other than Lisa! We are beyond thrilled to see her perform on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show stage.”
A clip announcing Lisa as the headliner for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was also released.
Following the announcement, social media erupted globally. Ever since Lisa left YG to pursue her solo career, she has continuously surprised fans with unexpected “gigs” they never saw coming.
By performing at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Lisa also becomes the first K-pop solo artist to appear as the headlining performer. This marks a significant milestone in the BLACKPINK maknae’s career as she embarks on a path to “conquer America” and target the international market.
Alongside Lisa, there will be performances from other female artists, including South African singer Tyla and 77-year-old legend Cher. This is also the first time in history that the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will feature an all-female cast, from the models on the catwalk to the performers.
Lisa at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show: Controversy is Inevitable!
Lisa stunned fans when she was announced as the main performer at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Will she turn the stage into her runway with outfits as daring as the Victoria’s Secret Angels’? Concerns are rising.
At the 2024 VMAs, Lisa turned the international music awards show into her personal fashion show, changing outfits four times. Every outfit she wore was highly praised, helping her shine and outshine many international artists present at the event. Therefore, when it was announced that Lisa would perform at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, netizens eagerly anticipated the BLACKPINK maknae’s “beauty battle” with the hot Victoria’s Secret Angels.
However, unlike the VMAs, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is known for its bold, fiery nature. It is a grand lingerie show with a stage combining lighting, music, and supermodels, held annually by Victoria’s Secret.
Previously, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was halted after the 2019 event due to several controversies. The most notable of these were the sexual misconduct scandals involving Ed Razek, the former executive director of the brand, and Leslie Wexner, the chairman of L Brands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret. The show was also criticized for culturally inappropriate outfits and for being out of touch with modern content.
Lisa herself was at the center of global controversy after performing five nights at the famous French strip club Crazy Horse. The skimpy lingerie and striptease elements of the show led to heavy criticism, and Lisa even faced a potential “blacklisting” in the Chinese market.
Artists who have previously performed on the Victoria’s Secret stage also wore daring outfits that matched those of the lingerie models. Therefore, many worry that if Lisa doesn’t choose her outfits carefully for this event, her image could be negatively affected, making her a target of public criticism.
Lisa faced heavy criticism when wearing lingerie at her Crazy Horse show.
Will she fall short against other female artists who have performed at Victoria’s Secret due to ongoing live singing controversies?
At previous Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows, artists performed alongside the lingerie models. Some of the stars who have graced this famous stage include Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, and more. These are all top global stars, so it’s unprecedented for a K-pop idol to appear and become the headlining artist.
However, Lisa has recently been the center of controversy following her performance at the VMAs. Performing two songs, “New Woman” and “ROCKSTAR,” netizens questioned whether Lisa was lip-syncing, focusing solely on her stage presence and dance skills. Although attendees of the VMAs later provided evidence proving she was singing live over a backtrack, the controversy over Lisa’s live singing abilities still lingers and has become a hot topic on social media.
Recently, on September 20 at midnight (Vietnam time), Lisa had an interview with Genius, the world’s largest platform for song lyrics and music knowledge. In the interview, she shared her thoughts on the message and meaning behind the lyrics of “New Woman.” However, when singing a few lines a cappella, Lisa exposed some vocal weaknesses.
Netizens speculate that this might be the reason she frequently uses a backtrack during performances. Not long after, Lisa’s fans posted a full clip of her singing “New Woman” a cappella to prove she has the ability to sing live, arguing that the controversial clip was edited to create misunderstandings about the idol.
Before her appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Lisa is also set to perform at the Global Citizen music festival as a headliner on September 28. Although it’s a charity show, Lisa’s presence is expected to be explosive when the event takes place. This performance is also seen as a “test” for Lisa following the controversy surrounding her VMAs stage and before her significant appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Having previously admitted that she always feels nervous about “filling” a stage alone without BLACKPINK, Lisa will need to reinvent herself with each music show to win over the harsh critiques from the audience.
Nonetheless, with each performance, Lisa further cements her status as a global idol, and each step she takes is a major leap in her career. Undoubtedly, with Lisa’s talent, her performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will be a defining moment, a landmark poised to make waves internationally for a K-pop solo artist.