Jennie of BLACKPINK’s latest track, “Mantra,” has been ruled ineligible for broadcast by KBS, South Korea’s public broadcaster.
On Oct. 23, KBS reportedly banned the hit song, citing the mention of specific brand names in the lyrics as a violation of Article 46 of the Broadcasting Review Regulations.
The song’s lyrics reference specific brand names, including Land Rover’s “Defender” and “In-N-Out Burger,” which led to its disqualification. The controversial lines include, “Pretty girls packed in a Defender, know I’mma defend her, never let her catch no stray,” and, “Cause we had to do a In-N-Out drive-by.”
However, if the problematic lyrics are altered or removed, the song may be re-evaluated and approved for airing.
“Mantra,” released on Oct. 11, encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and celebrate their unique traits confidently. Despite the broadcasting challenge, the song has seen significant success, debuting at No. 98 on the Billboard Hot 100 as of Oct. 22 (local time). It has also made a strong showing on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. US charts, ranking 2nd and 3rd, respectively—both charts reflect streaming and sales data from more than 200 countries.
