A forthcoming documentary provides an intimate look at Blackpink member Lisa Manobal during a pivotal moment of controversy in her career. The film, titled Always Lalisa, reveals the unscripted reactions of the global pop star as she navigated a racial scandal while preparing for one of the biggest moments of her solo career.
Last year, leaked rehearsal videos from when Lisa and her group members were teenagers surfaced, showing them performing US rap tracks with explicit, uncensored language, including racial slurs. The footage ignited a firestorm online, with offended fans demanding accountability. However, their record label instructed the members against issuing any public statements, leaving Lisa’s team in a state of crisis.
During the height of the uproar, director Sue Kim followed Lisa into her dressing room just before the 2025 Coachella Festival. Expecting refusal, Kim was surprised when Lisa agreed to speak on camera. Lying on a sofa, Lisa expressed deep remorse, explaining that she was only 15 or 16 years old at the time and, coming from Thailand where English is not her first language, she was unaware of the word’s offensive history. “I didn’t know that [word] was sensitive,” Lisa admitted, adding, “But I did wrong.”
Kim described the scene as one of the most crucial moments in the documentary, noting the absence of media training or premeditation. “It’s all stream of consciousness,” Kim said. “What you see with Lisa in that moment is so genuine, it’s impossible not to feel compassion for her.”
The scandal threatened to overshadow the launch of Lisa’s debut solo album, Alter Ego. Despite receiving death threats and dealing with significant safety concerns, Lisa continued with public appearances. “To a certain extent I have to take [criticism] and compromise,” she told Kim, appearing exhausted by the pressure.
Always Lalisa, which premieres in cinemas on October 12, chronicles Lisa’s departure from the restrictive K-pop system to pursue a solo career in the West. Signed to YG Entertainment as a teenager, she eventually left for RCA Records in the US, a move Kim called “immense courage” given Lisa’s compliant upbringing. The film captures her struggles in the recording studio and her determination to assert herself, highlighting a transition from uncertainty to growing confidence.
The documentary also covers her acting breakthrough in season three of The White Lotus, where she played Mook Sornsin. On set, Lisa shed the moral constraints of her pop career, embracing a more social lifestyle that included tequila shots—a stark contrast to the disciplined image she maintained in Korea.
Director Sue Kim emphasized Lisa’s transparency, noting that the star never requested any scenes be removed. While the film was commissioned by Lisa’s label, Kim credited her subject with preventing it from becoming a mere promotional piece. The story concludes in June 2025 as Lisa returns to Seoul, reflecting on her year of freedom with a mix of nostalgia and apprehension about losing that autonomy within the group.
Since filming wrapped, Lisa has continued to expand her solo career, recently winning best pop act at the MTV Awards and releasing the single Sawadika. Kim suggests that her time in the US, where artists are not bound by vows of chastity or strict behavioral codes, gave Lisa a new perspective on her future. “She realized she could have a different life,” Kim observed, noting that Lisa now believes she can balance marriage and children with her career—a possibility she previously felt was impossible.
Leaving YG for RCA was brave. Hopefully, this documentary shows real growth, not just damage control.
Did anyone else notice how exhausted she looked? The death threats must be terrifying to handle on top of this.
The contrast between K-pop discipline and her White Lotus freedom is fascinating. She’s finally finding her voice.
Unaware of the slur’s history? Really? That’s a weak excuse, regardless of her age or background.
It’s refreshing to see her admit fault so directly. The Coachella scene felt incredibly raw and honest.