British magazine ELLE UK is under fire after sparking accusations of racial discrimination against BLACKPINK's Rosé during Paris Fashion Week.
Controversial Omission
Rosé attended the Saint Laurent 2026 S/S Women's Collection Show in Paris on September 30 as the brand's global ambassador, seated prominently in the front row alongside Charli XCX, Hailey Bieber, and Zoë Kravitz.
However, ELLE UK uploaded a photo to Instagram featuring only Charli XCX, Hailey Bieber, and Zoë Kravitz—cropping Rosé out entirely. Fans worldwide, from Korea to Europe, condemned the move as "racist" and "disrespectful."
The backlash deepened when Charli XCX herself posted another image where Rosé appeared unnaturally darkened, while Hailey Bieber later shared the same post on her Instagram story.
Belated Response
On October 2, amid mounting criticism, ELLE UK attempted to contain the situation by uploading a solo image of Rosé with the caption:
"The most standout look came courtesy of Blackpink star #Rosé."
Yet the move did little to appease global fans. Comments flooded in:
- "Too little, too late."
- "At least write a formal apology."
- "This is racism."
Fan Reaction and Wider Criticism
The controversy has gone beyond ELLE UK. Charli XCX was criticized for seemingly ignoring Rosé in Vogue Japan's video and for sharing content that shadowed her out. Hailey Bieber also drew ire for amplifying the post without acknowledgment.
Despite the growing storm, Rosé herself maintained professionalism, posting her own photos from the Saint Laurent show and thanking creative director Anthony Vaccarello:
"Thank you for inviting me to such an amazing show. Your work is beautiful, I love you."
Context
BLACKPINK's Rosé is one of the most recognizable global fashion icons, consistently seated in the front row at Paris Fashion Week shows. Fans argue that her exclusion from ELLE UK's post reflects not just editorial oversight but a deeper issue of racial bias against Asian stars in Western fashion media.
With the controversy spreading globally under hashtags like #RespectRosé and #StopRacism, pressure is mounting on ELLE UK and related figures to issue an official apology.
