MANILA, Philippines — BLACKPINK’s Lisa is giving fans a rare glimpse into the private sacrifices behind her rise to global superstardom, revealing that she once kept several relationships secret because she feared her dating life could hurt BLACKPINK’s popularity.
The revelation comes from Lisa’s upcoming documentary “Always Lalisa,” which explores her journey from a teenage trainee in Thailand to one of K-pop’s biggest global stars.
Lisa, whose full name is Lalisa Manobal, moved to South Korea in 2011 at just 14 years old to begin training under YG Entertainment. Looking back on those years, she recalled feeling unable to freely express herself and becoming emotional while revisiting the demanding evaluation process she experienced as a trainee.
But it was her comments about romance that have generated the biggest buzz.
Lisa: “We can’t date” in K-pop culture
In the documentary, Lisa described the enormous pressure surrounding dating as a K-pop idol.
“In K-pop culture, we can’t date,” Lisa said.
She explained that publicly being seen with someone could potentially affect an idol’s popularity, particularly if paparazzi photographs turned a private relationship into a public story.
Lisa said she had “a few relationships” when she was younger but chose to keep them hidden.
“I didn’t want my dating to be the thing that hurts BLACKPINK’s popularity,” she said.
Her comments highlight one of the less visible pressures that can accompany life as a major K-pop star, where an artist’s public image can become closely connected to the expectations of fans.
Billboard also reported on Lisa’s revelation, noting that the BLACKPINK members have historically maintained a high level of privacy surrounding their romantic lives.
One secret relationship became part of Lisa’s music
Lisa’s revelations did not stop with her dating history.
She disclosed that “Dream,” a song from her 2025 solo album “Alter Ego,” was inspired by one of those secret relationships.
Before releasing the song, Lisa said she contacted the person involved and asked for permission to use the experience as inspiration.
The former partner reportedly agreed—but with one condition: fans should not be able to identify them.
Lisa even appeared amused by the speculation surrounding the song, indicating that while fans may believe they have worked out the identity of the person who inspired it, she does not think they have.
That detail could make “Dream” one of the most closely examined tracks in Lisa’s solo catalog as fans revisit its lyrics and speculate about the story behind it.
Lisa’s revelation is not confirmation of current romance
Despite the renewed attention surrounding Lisa’s comments, her documentary revelation does not identify any former partner or confirm a current relationship.
Lisa has been linked by media reports and fan speculation to French businessman Frédéric Arnault, the son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault. The two have been seen together on several occasions since 2023, but neither has publicly confirmed that they were or are romantically involved.
More recently, Lisa has also been the subject of online dating speculation involving Thai actor Blue Pongtiwat. Again, there has been no public confirmation from Lisa or Pongtiwat establishing a romantic relationship.
Those rumors should therefore be distinguished from Lisa’s newly revealed account of having had relationships in the past.
A deeper look at the cost of growing up famous
“Always Lalisa” appears to go beyond celebrity gossip and dating revelations.
The documentary examines Lisa’s experience of entering the K-pop industry as a teenager, including the intense training and evaluations that shaped her career.
Lisa reportedly became emotional while watching old monthly evaluation footage from her trainee years.
“I didn’t dare speak up or express my thoughts,” she recalled, describing how she had lived that way since she was 14.
Director Sue Kim has described the film as an unusually intimate look at the life of a major K-pop star, including the pressures of fandom, online criticism and the tension between Lisa’s public persona and private life.
Lisa has previously spoken about the difficulty of maintaining privacy, particularly after becoming one of the world’s most recognizable entertainers.
In a 2026 Vanity Fair profile, she said that fans appeared to respect her privacy more after she openly discussed how little personal space she sometimes has.
“Always Lalisa” arrives as Lisa enters another major career chapter
The documentary arrives at an important moment for Lisa.
After launching her own management company, Lloud, in 2024, Lisa has increasingly expanded her career beyond BLACKPINK, including solo music and acting. Vanity Fair previously documented her work outside the group, including her role in HBO’s The White Lotus and her growing presence in the U.S. entertainment industry.
She has also begun a new musical era with “SaWaDiKa,” a pre-release track connected to her upcoming EP “Press Play.” GMA Entertainment reported that the EP is scheduled for release on October 23.
Meanwhile, “Always Lalisa” is scheduled to have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, followed by a worldwide IMAX and theatrical release beginning October 12. The documentary is also expected to arrive on YouTube Premium later in 2026.
For fans, however, one revelation may linger longer than the music and movie dates: Lisa once had relationships she deliberately kept hidden—and one of those private chapters ultimately became part of a song.
And despite years of fan theories, Lisa is still keeping the identity of that person to herself.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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