BLACKPINK's Lisa is learning that even a stunning Met Gala debut can come with a backlash. The Thai-born K-pop superstar attended the 2025 Met Gala on May 5 in a daring Louis Vuitton outfit – only to find herself slammed as "culturally tone-deaf" by many online. The controversy? A detail in her ensemble that some fans and critics found disrespectful to a civil rights icon, sparking an intense debate across social media and entertainment news outlets.
Lisa appeared at the Met Gala wearing a black Louis Vuitton lace blazer and an embellished bodysuit (with visible cheeky underwear) plus logo-patterned tights. Her ensemble was custom-designed by Louis Vuitton’s Pharrell Williams (a co-chair of the event) and featured intricate black lace and sheer panels. She paired the form-fitting blazer with matching black lace underwear and sheer tights emblazoned with the LV monogram. A string of pearls and gold chains adorned her waist, along with a black Louis Vuitton purse and classic black pumps. Lisa wore her honey-blonde hair in a voluminous updo and kept her makeup soft, letting the outfit itself be the bold statement. This was her first Met Gala appearance, making her the third member of BLACKPINK to attend the exclusive fashion event.
For those unfamiliar, the Met Gala is an annual star-studded fundraiser at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art where celebrities dress to an over-the-top theme. Lisa’s glittering black ensemble was inspired by the 2025 theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrating Black fashion and heritage. She initially drew praise for her edgy “pantsless” look, but as red-carpet photos zoomed in on the details, some observers noticed something that quickly turned applause into uproar.
It didn’t take long for social media to erupt. Upon closer inspection, fans spotted what looked like a face sewn into the fabric of Lisa’s underwear – a face many believed to be that of Rosa Parks. Parks, of course, is the African-American civil rights icon famous for refusing to give up her bus seat in 1955. Seeing her likeness on luxury underwear struck many as jarring and disrespectful. The phrase “Rosa Parks underwear” began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with stunned viewers circulating zoomed-in images of Lisa’s outfit. Outrage spread rapidly. “Just found out Lisa had Rosa Parks embroidered into her UNDERWEAR,” one user wrote. Another asked in disbelief, “Why does Lisa have Rosa Parks in her pants?” Memes and shocked reactions flooded timelines. “I know Lisa does not have Rosa Parks all over her underwear right now,” one fan tweeted, calling the choice “highly distasteful.”
Others criticized the look as “inappropriate and disrespectful” toward Parks’ legacy, calling it “a blatant lack of respect and sensitivity” and “reinforcing harmful racial stereotypes.” Critics also noted that the Met Gala was intended to honor Black culture and style, making the alleged use of Rosa Parks’ likeness seem especially “tone-deaf.” What started as a fashion statement quickly turned into a cultural flashpoint.
Digging deeper, there were a few key reasons for the backlash. First was the perceived disrespect toward Rosa Parks, revered as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.” Placing her face on the crotch area of a costume sexualized and trivialized her legacy, which did not sit well with many. “So Rosa Parks, who literally risked her life for civil rights, is now lingerie decor?” one viral tweet lamented. Secondly, the Met Gala context amplified the offense. With the theme celebrating Black style and empowerment, many saw this supposed Parks imagery as a starkly ironic choice. If the goal was to honor Black trailblazers through fashion, critics felt it missed the mark in a tone-deaf way – especially since Pharrell Williams, a Black artist and Louis Vuitton’s menswear director, designed the outfit. The disconnect between intention and impact was glaring to those upset.
Finally, Lisa’s past controversies involving cultural and racial insensitivity fueled the flames. She has faced criticism before for using a clumsy imitation of African American Vernacular English and, in a separate incident, wearing box braids. These moments led some fans to believe she should have been extra cautious when referencing Black culture. So when Lisa showed up at a high-profile event “with Rosa Parks on her moose knuckle,” critics saw a pattern. In short, the uproar wasn’t just about one pair of embellished panties; it was about a broader context and track record.
While the backlash was loud, some fans defended Lisa, insisting she likely had no intent to offend. They praised her bold style and pointed out that her outfit was a custom Louis Vuitton piece approved by major names in fashion. Many supporters saw the uproar as a misunderstanding. In the midst of the firestorm, clarifications began to emerge. According to a spokesperson for Henry Taylor – the contemporary artist behind the lace design – Rosa Parks was never depicted on Lisa’s outfit at all. “The figure featured in Lisa’s Louis Vuitton look is not Rosa Parks, but one of Henry’s neighbors,” the artist’s rep said. All the faces woven into the lace were from Taylor’s personal life, not historical icons. The New York Times also confirmed the faces were of people the artist knows personally, not well-known Black figures. This revelation cast the controversy in a different light but didn’t extinguish it. Many had already made up their minds. Others pointed out that even if the face wasn’t Parks, having any Black individual’s likeness on someone’s underwear at an event celebrating Black culture was still problematic in their view.
Lisa herself stayed silent publicly, with no direct statement addressing the controversy. Her social media focused on post-event photos, while discussions raged around her name. In the end, the uproar over Lisa’s Met Gala outfit illustrates how context matters when blending fashion with cultural symbols. A design element that might have been innocuous (or a case of mistaken identity) resonated very differently with the public. In today’s hyper-connected world, reactions play out instantly and loudly. As a millennial writer watching this unfold, I’m struck by how it became a Rorschach test for cultural awareness: some saw an edgy tribute, while others saw disrespect. Both perspectives caught fire online, reflecting deeper tensions about who gets to represent what – and how.
From a psychology-of-trends standpoint, a single fashion choice can trigger a much bigger conversation. In Lisa’s case, her star power meant the debate transcended the Met Gala and tapped into ongoing discussions about K-pop’s engagement with Black culture. If anything, controversies like this can prompt greater awareness. You can bet that moving forward, artists and designers will think twice about their couture’s potential messages. Lisa’s Met Gala moment was meant to be a crowning achievement, and it was – she delivered on glamour and made headlines. But it also proved how quickly applause can turn into critique. Whether the backlash was overblown or justified, it underscores one thing: in an era where every detail is dissected in real-time, no star is immune from cultural accountability. As the dust settles, it’s likely to be remembered as a cautionary tale about style and sensitivity – reminding us all that what we wear can carry meaning far beyond the surface, and that meaning is ultimately in the eye of the beholder.
