BLACKPINK’s Lisa opens up in her upcoming documentary ‘Always Lalisa’ about the realities of dating as a K-pop idol and the personal cost of global fame.
BLACKPINK member Lisa is giving fans a raw and emotional look into her life in her first solo documentary, Always Lalisa. The film, set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, features the Thai-born star opening up about the challenges she faced growing up in the K-pop industry. From moving to South Korea at just 14 years old to navigating the pressures of global fame, Lisa shares candid details about her struggles with privacy, dating, and finally feeling like she is living her own life.
Lisa Reflects on Trainee Days and Lost Privacy
Lisa, who left Thailand in 2011 to become a trainee under YG Entertainment, became emotional while looking back at her early years in the industry.The documentary includes footage Lisa recorded herself during her trainee period, as well as scenes of her watching old videos and revisiting the criticism and evaluations she received at the time.
“Only now do I feel like I’m living my own life,” Lisa says in the documentary.She continued, “I didn’t dare to use my voice or express my thoughts.”Lisa explained that she had been living with that mindset since she was 14, struggling to freely express herself after beginning her career as a K-pop artist.
The monthly evaluations she underwent as a trainee became a source of constant pressure.Every month, she had to have her skills evaluated before immediately preparing for the next assessment.Watching the footage years later, Lisa struggled to hold back her emotions.
Lisa eventually debuted as a member of BLACKPINK alongside Jisoo, Jennie, and Rosé in 2016.The group achieved global recognition with hits including “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” “Kill This Love,” and “How You Like That.”As BLACKPINK’s main dancer and rapper, Lisa went on to establish herself as a global star.However, as the group’s popularity grew, so did public interest in the members’ personal lives.
The Reality of Dating as a K-pop Idol
In the documentary, Lisa specifically addressed the challenges surrounding dating in the K-pop industry.”In K-pop culture, you can’t date,” she said, explaining that publicly revealing a relationship could affect both fan reactions and an artist’s popularity.
“If you’re seeing someone and you get caught by paparazzi, your popularity drops,” Lisa explained.”When I was younger, I had a few relationships, but we had to hide when we’re dating. I didn’t want my dating to be the thing that hurts BLACKPINK’s popularity.”
Lisa revealed that she had dated several times when she was younger but deliberately kept those relationships out of the public eye.”The moment you’re caught by paparazzi with someone, the artist’s popularity drops drastically,” Lisa explained.”I dated a few times when I was younger, but I had to keep every relationship completely secret.”
For Lisa, keeping her relationships private was about more than simply protecting her personal life.It reflected the pressure she felt to consider how her individual actions could affect the group.”I didn’t want my dating to be the thing that hurts BLACKPINK’s popularity,” she said.
According to reports, South Korean entertainment companies generally impose dating bans on trainees and newly debuted artists to create an image of artists who are “emotionally approachable,” as public dating could be seen as scandalous or a betrayal of fans.
Lisa’s Past Relationships and Rumors
Lisa has been the subject of numerous dating rumors over the years.Since 2023, she has been spotted several times with Frédéric Arnault, the son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault.However, neither has ever officially confirmed their relationship.
In June 2026, a US-based fashion magazine reported that the two had parted ways.The pair had been romantically linked since 2022, with sightings in cities including Paris, Tokyo, and Los Angeles, but they never publicly addressed the speculation.
More recently, Lisa sparked fresh dating rumors with Thai actor Blue Pongtiwat after the two were reportedly seen spending time together and sharing moments around her 29th birthday.Blue Pongtiwat Tangwancharoen is a Thai actor, singer, and model known for his roles in Thai productions including Ready, Set, Love and Intern In My Heart.However, these claims also remain unconfirmed, with neither Lisa nor Blue addressing the speculation publicly.
Turning a Secret Relationship Into Music
Lisa also revealed in the documentary that “Dream,” a track from her 2025 solo album Alter Ego, was written about one of the relationships she had kept private.Before releasing the song, she sought the person’s approval.
The person agreed on one condition: that fans would not be able to uncover their identity.”They thought they figured it out, but I don’t think so,” Lisa says in the documentary.
Lisa’s revelation about “Dream” has sparked curiosity among fans about the identity of the person who inspired the track.However, the singer seems confident that the mystery remains unsolved.
About ‘Always Lalisa’ Documentary
Directed by Sue Kim, Always Lalisa chronicles a transformative year in Lisa’s life as she pursued solo music, acting, and other projects outside BLACKPINK.The documentary shows Lisa forging her own path, particularly in the Western music market, while facing new pressures and relentless scrutiny.
The film will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2026.It will have a second screening on September 12 at Roy Thomson Hall.
Following the festival premiere, Always Lalisa will open in IMAX and cinemas worldwide for a limited engagement starting October 12, 2026.Tickets for the theatrical release will go on sale on September 9.
After its theatrical run, the documentary will stream exclusively on YouTube Premium later in 2026.
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Lisa’s Upcoming Music
Lisa is also preparing to release new music. She is set to release her six-track EP titled ‘Press Play’ on October 23, 2026, via LLOUD and RCA Records.On September 4, she released the single “SaWaDiKa” along with a music video.
Also Read: LISA Drops ‘SaWaDiKa’ Teaser Just Hours Before Release—Netizens Have Mixed Feelings
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