Falling under a wave of criticism since the release of the short film Dream starring Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, a global Kpop icon, is facing social media backlash. A behind-the-scenes photo posted in her Instagram stories showed Lisa pretending to playfully bite Sakaguchi’s arm, the accusations of “sexual harassment” soon followed with piled-up controversy online.
The Dream Short Film: A Cinematic Triumph Marred by Controversy
Released on August 13, 2025, Dream is a minuscule yet emotionally weighty 5-minute visual from Lisa’s solo album Alter Ego. Directed by Ojun Kwon, it shows a tragic love story with deaths on both sides between Lisa and Sakaguchi, garnering 6.05 million views on YouTube within 24 hours-the highest for a short film in 2025.
Lisa’s Instagram post showing her biting Sakaguchi’s arm during a break intended to present a playful dynamic between the actors but instead sparked backlash, this banter was not appreciated by Japanese netizens, resulting in hateful trolls and tweets, considering Lisa’s behaviour as unprofessional and inappropriate.
This won’t be some kind of revenge from the fans of that Japanese actor towards Lisa’s fans for her comments towards Japan just because the Japanese fans criticized Lisa for the bite she gave the actor and that for the Japanese was rude and an act of harassment+ https://t.co/Ni6A0e12Wx
— Luna21 (@lunafallX) August 19, 2025
Netizens’ Reactions: An Online Polarisation
The controversy set off an online storm, with voices divided over various X posts. Detractors claimed the gesture was” sexual harassment,” with one insisting, “If the roles were reversed, he’d be accused of assault.”
Some critics went on to denounce Lisa’s fans for dismissing valid critique with unrefined insults, which included disparaging remarks about Japan concerning “atomic bomb jokes.”
Omfg you really think Lisa bit him out of the blue ????? He obviously knew she was gonna bite him idk why y’all are making this such a big deal
— blinkcity is messy (@Angel2016to) August 19, 2025
On the other hand, Lisa’s supporters asserted that she had rather been professional and that there had been a different level of understanding between the two. One fan said, “They’re professionals working on an intimate story, context matters!” Meanwhile, some went back to dig up older unrelated videos of Lisa to fuel the ongoing controversy and accuse her of bullying.
They are acting as lovers for an MV, I think this is completely normal. Lisa will not decide to just go and bite people unless the she was directed to by the director. Do Japanese people think this is something a normal person will do? I feel it anyone who assume this is low IQ.
— 波巴綜合症 (@bobabobbafett) August 18, 2025
Cultural Context with Spotlight on Double Standards
This entire hubbub reveals several underlying aspects dealing with cultural differences and gender relations in the entertainment world. Some claim it is a double standard, as men rarely face this amount of scrutiny for some sort of playful behaviour.
There are those who say Lisa has plenty of professional experience in projects like The White Lotus, thus asking that her intent and collaborative nature of the set be assessed by her attackers. While Dream trends on YouTube, the debate contrasts starkly against the growing challenges that international icons encounter-bent in some cultural sensitivity and a whole lot of online backlash.
Also Read: I-LAND 2 Star Yoon Ji Yoon Leaves izna, Health Issues Or Hidden K-Pop Drama?
