Why is BLACKPINK Rosé's 2022 selfie with Gal Gadot going viral now? Old pic resurfaces amid boycott backlash

Fanwars are nothing new in K-pop, but since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began, even the smallest actions by idols -what they wear, drink, or post - have sparked outrage. BLACKPINK's Rosé is now under renewed scrutiny as fans resurface her 2022 photo with Gal Gadot, questioning why she's escaped backlash while others haven't.

The controversy reignited after BTS' Jungkook appeared in a post-workout photo shared by his trainer, Ma Sun Ho. While most fans admired his new chest tattoo, some zoomed in on the Starbucks cup in his hand - leading to online uproar. This sparked fresh fanwars, with many calling out the double standards in how BTS and BLACKPINK idols are treated.



BLACKPINK's Rosé and Hollywood star Gal Gadot crossed paths at the Tiffany & Co. event in June 2022. The moment went viral when Gadot posted a glowing selfie with Rosé, calling her "sweet @roses_are_rosie" on her Instagram story - instantly sending fans into a frenzy.

What was once celebrated as a charming celebrity crossover has now become a flashpoint. With Gadot facing mounting backlash over her political stance, Rosé is being dragged into the fire. The resurgence of the photo isn't due to any new development between the two - but because it's being repurposed in the middle of a heated boycott against Gadot, triggered by her vocal support for Israel.



That backlash, which began in 2024 and intensified into 2025, has turned every past association of Gadot into ammunition - including this seemingly innocent selfie. Now, the resurfaced image has reignited online chaos. K-pop fans are questioning why Rosé is linked to such a polarizing figure.




However, her fans argue that she's being unfairly targeted and shouldn't even be brought into the conversation, as the two met in 2022 - long before the boycotts began. Others, however, counter that the conflict between the two countries didn't start on October 7, 2023, but has been ongoing for years.



At the moment, the idol is occupied with her group's ongoing world tour, DEADLINE, which kicked off on July 5, 2025, at Goyang Stadium in South Korea. The tour is set to wrap up on January 25, 2026, at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong. Their next stop is on August 9 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

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