Just when the internet believed BLACKPINK's Jisoo had delivered one of the most iconic fashion moments of her life at her Met Gala debut this year, a fresh controversy has thrust her red carpet appearance back into the spotlight, and for reasons far from favorable. Her gown for the event was designed by a Belgian fashion designer, who has publicly accused Jisoo's team of failing to return loaned clothing on time, which was provided for an album photo shoot. Although the matter has since been resolved, the accusations remain fresh in public discourse.
The Designer's Allegations
Belgian designer Benjamin Bortmans, founder of the label Judassime, initially claimed on social media that several outfits from his brand were sent to South Korea for Jisoo's album cover shoot. However, he stated that the pieces had not been returned for over six months. These items were described as 'important archive pieces' from his label, further escalating tensions between the two parties.
According to a report in The Straits Times, Bortmans wrote on his Instagram, "Six months ago, I sent multiple pieces for Jisoo's album cover project. Some of them were very important archive pieces and extremely expensive." This post, along with a follow-up video, has since been deleted. In the follow-up video posted the day after the Met Gala, Bortmans announced that the issue had been resolved. He also tagged Jisoo's official account, demanding the return of his outfits, and claimed he had sent invoices and contracts related to the situation, indicating he was considering legal action.
Public Backlash and Clarification
The designer's approach backfired, as he began receiving online criticism from people who deemed him 'unfair' for calling out the singer when she was not directly responsible for the situation. Bortmans quickly clarified his stance, writing online, "I never attacked Jisoo... I put her name in the title of the video to have a response from her team. I used her name because it was a part of the shoot, and her name was everywhere in all the e-mails and documents." He added that he harbored no negative feelings towards Jisoo and loves everything she does and what she stands for.
Jisoo's Agency Remains Silent
Jisoo's agency has refrained from commenting on the matter, while the public continues to criticize Bortmans' lack of communication skills. Amidst this controversy, one thing is certain: the K-pop singer will surely not forget her debut moment at the Met Gala, followed by such a fashion-related issue.
