"This is embarrassing" - Fans divided as BLACKPINK faces backlash for "messy" performance during Taiwan show on DEADLINE Asia tour

On October 18, 2025, BLACKPINK began the Asian leg of their DEADLINE World Tour with two sold-out nights at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan. The concerts marked their long-awaited return to Asia after major stops in Europe and North America earlier this year. However, amidst the excitement, the group faced backlash online over what many described as a “messy” performance.

Clips from the show, especially from their track Pink Venom and Jump, became viral on social media, leading to backlash. Some fans expressed frustration, saying the performance felt “lazy” given that the members were returning after nearly a two‑month break from touring.

Fans took to social media to voice their opinions and even suggested the group should be disbanded. An X user, @creamchromes, wrote:

"@blackpink its ok to just disband and cancel the whole tour.... this is embarrassing."

Others also joined in and expressed disappointment. Many netizens said the show lacked enthusiasm and coordination, while a few even questioned whether the group should continue touring.

Meanwhile, some defended the group. They stated that the videos didn't capture the full concert experience. They mentioned that there must be a valid reason why the members slowed down in the middle.

More about BLACKPINK’s DEADLINE tour, Taiwan celebrations, and setlist

Despite the criticism, Taiwan celebrated BLACKPINK’s visit with large-scale projects. The Kaohsiung City Government launched a “Light Up in Pink” campaign to mark the concerts. It illuminated famous landmarks like the Love River and Kaohsiung Music Center in pink.

Even former President Tsai Ing-wen and Mayor Chen Chi-mai joined the celebration by sharing AI-generated selfies featuring pink hair. They called it a show of national support.

According to Taiwan News, the concerts pushed Kaohsiung’s hotel occupancy rate to 90%. Notably, fans from across Taiwan and abroad flocked to the city. Pop-up stores, fan events, and themed decorations filled public spaces, turning Kaohsiung pink.

Here’s the Kaohsiung concert setlist from the DEADLINE tour:

Group Performances:

Kill This Love
Pink Venom
How You Like That
Playing With Fire
Shut Down
Pretty Savage

JISOO’s Set:

Earthquake
Hugh & Kisses

LISA’s Set:

Thunder
When I’m With You
Rockstar

JENNIE’s Set:

ExtraL
Starlight
Like Jennie

ROSÉ’s Set:

3am
Toxic Till The End
APT

Group Finale:

Jump
Boombayah
DDU-DU DDU-DU
As If It’s Your Last
Forever Young

The DEADLINE World Tour is BLACKPINK’s first all-stadium global tour, spanning 33 shows in 16 cities.

After Taiwan, the group will perform in Bangkok (October 24-26), Jakarta (November 1-2), Bulacan (November 22-23), Singapore (November 28-30), Tokyo (January 16-18), and Hong Kong (January 24-26).

About the author

Mantasha is a pop culture writer at Sportskeeda who covers K-pop and K-drama. She has recently completed her Masters in English and has a rich 3-year writing experience where she crafted engaging content for top companies such as Unacademy, Apollo Hospitals, Adani Airports, and the Economic Times. Her experience has helped her create a strong foundation that complements her passion for creating the best content related to K-pop, K-dramas and Korean movies.

Mantasha's interest in pop culture took root when her cousin introduced her to classic Hollywood and Bollywood tunes and the rest, as they say, is history. Mantasha’s connection with K-pop supergroup BTS is a special one as their song lyrics, hard work, and dedication resonate with her like no other group does.

Maintaining accuracy, relevance, and ethics in her reporting is extremely essential for Mantasha. She prioritizes thorough research, delving deep beyond just superficial sources, to ensure comprehensive and trustworthy information.

When not writing, Mantasha enjoys journaling and doodling, watching K-dramas and listening to songs.

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Edited by Riya Peter