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Zoey Zhang

A Chinese influencer’s imitation of Rosé from the South Korean K-pop girl group Blackpink at a pop-up shop has ignited an online debate over fan culture and celebrity identity.
Rosé, who is known for her unique voice and versatile singing style, has more than 80 million followers on social media.
The Korean-New Zealand singer’s career skyrocketed with the success of her solo track APT, after which she signed with top agency WME.
A Chinese influencer called Daisy who identifies as a “blink”, the official fandom name for Blackpink, is a fan of Rosé. She has amassed over 500,000 followers by sharing videos of the singer.

Daisy often sits in the front row at concerts, holding signs with messages of love and support for Rosé.
Recently, a shopping centre in Chengdu, in southwestern China, launched a Rosé pop-up shop and invited Daisy as a “one-day shop manager”.
Days before the event, Daisy posted on social media, playfully promoting her role with the caption “seizing power”.
The event featured official Rosé merchandise and a Blackpink-themed photographing area, but confusion arose when Daisy was introduced as a special guest with whom visitors could engage.
Videos surfaced showing a blonde-haired Daisy dressed in an outfit strikingly similar to that of Rosé posing for photographs with fans.

The controversy intensified when Daisy signed her own name on postcards featuring Rosé’s image.
Criticism flooded her comment sections.
One Rosé’s fan wrote: “Her signature even imitates that of Rosé, with a little flower drawn at the end. She enjoys playing the role of a star, basking in applause and attention. It is shameful.”
Another person said: “At the event, many people thought a big star had arrived. Everyone was taking photographs with Daisy; she stole the spotlight, but she is not the girl I love.”
Daisy insisted that she was invited by the shopping centre and took part according to their plans, aiming to create positive memories for fans.
She said she did not receive any payment for her appearance and apologised for any confusion caused by her actions.
Daisy also said that her admiration for Rosé began in 2019 and it was driven by “pure and steadfast love”, not a desire for attention.
On December 16, the shopping centre said that the event was not officially organised or endorsed by Blackpink or Rosé’s agency and apologised for missteps in its arrangements.

The incident sparked heated debate on social media.
One netizen said: “Daisy’s behaviour blurs the boundary between fans and idols. Even though she apologised, she still hurt some of Rosé’s fans.”
Another wrote: “Daisy is just a fan, not an official representative. The shopping centre should have been more careful in overseeing the event to avoid misleading the public.”
Legal experts also weighed in, with one lawyer explaining that the image, voice and recognisable traits of public figures are protected under intellectual property and personality rights laws.
An insider from a Beijing talent agency said: “If the actions of an imitator confuse the public or lead to profits, this could constitute infringement.”


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A Chinese influencer has triggered controversy by impersonating Blackpink’s Rosé at a pop-up event, reigniting a debate about the boundaries between fandom and celebrity identity. Photo: SCMP composite/IG@roses_are_rosie/Rednote

Blonde-haired influencer Daisy appears at the pop-up event in a shopping centre. Photo: RedNote

Daisy was dressed like the Blackpink icon and even signed postcards with the star’s image on them. Photo: RedNote

The real deal: Rosé, above, has been catapulted into global stardom. Photo: Getty Images 

A recent episode of a Japanese variety show featured a touching story of friendship between a Chinese tourist and a Japanese local resident. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com/matcha-jp.com

Japan remains a highly sought-after tourist destination for Chinese travellers, consistently ranking among their top choices, although recent diplomatic tensions have caused temporary declines in tourism. Photo: EPA/Franck Robichon

Recently, the Japanese variety show “The World’s Astonishing News!” revisited a heartwarming friendship story from 2016 of these two men, igniting discussions among netizens in both countries. Photo: 6park.com

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During the ceremony, Liu emphasised that she was not bidding farewell to life, but rather celebrating it in her own extraordinary way. Photo: QQ.com

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A collection of photographs showcasing significant moments from Liu’s life, reminiscent of how one is honoured at a funeral. Photo: QQ.com

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News

People & Culture

China Personalities

Blonde-haired content creator who identifies as ‘Blink’ online appears at event dressed like star, signs postcards bearing image of iconic singer


Blonde-haired content creator who identifies as ‘Blink’ online appears at event dressed like star, signs postcards bearing image of iconic singer.


Icons and Influencers

Blackpink

K-pop idols

China influencer imitating Blackpink’s Rosé provokes debate about fandom-celebrity grey area

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Blonde-haired content creator who identifies as ‘Blink’ online appears at event dressed like star, signs postcards bearing image of iconic singer

Blonde-haired content creator who identifies as ‘Blink’ online appears at event dressed like star, signs postcards bearing image of iconic singer