BLACKPINK Lisa’s zoo visit divides K-pop Twitter
BLACKPINK’s Lisa recently visited Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan to meet Punch, the monkey who became an unexpected internet sensation. The idol shared her visit on Instagram, where she held up a stuffed orangutan to connect with the little macaque, even snapping photos of him cuddling his own famous plush toy. It seemed like a lighthearted celebrity moment, but it quickly spiralled into one of the biggest fan wars online.
Image credit : X/@PopBase | shares photos from her visit to viral monkey Punch
Who is Punch and why does the internet love him so much?
Punch is a Japanese macaque who went viral for a heartbreaking reason. He was ostracised by other monkeys in his troop and found comfort in carrying around a Djungelskog stuffed orangutan, which became his security blanket. His story of resilience and loneliness melted hearts globally, turning him into a symbol of hope and making his visits a pilgrimage for fans. The fact that Lisa showed up with her own matching plushie to befriend him made the moment incredibly special until fan wars reshaped the narrative.
Image credit : X/@PopBase | Punch, the Japanese macaque, went viral for carrying a DJUNGELSKOG plush after being ostracised by his troop
Why is Lisa facing backlash?
K-pop fandom was not here for it. They called Lisa’s visit performative, saying she could’ve just donated money instead of flying out for a zoo trip. The word “activism” got thrown around, and quickly, a monkey visit became a moral debate.
However, Lisa’s fans clapped back instantly. They brought receipts of the Rockstar singer’s past donations to bring clean water to Africa, her flood relief efforts in Thailand, the time she funded wells for villages. Then they flipped the script and brought up BTS’s V promoting Coca Cola Zero, which some boycott over ties to Israel.