Pinoy fans cause airport chaos as Blackpink arrives in PH

Blackpink, composing of Lisa, Jisoo, Jennie, and Rosé, will be performing on Saturday, February 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena (MOA) in Pasay City. (File photo: BLACKPINK/Facebook)

Filipino fans of South Korean girl group Blackpink were supposed to give their idols a warm welcome as they set foot in the country last night, February 1, for their concert. But what happened upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was something many other Blinks did not like.

Many netizens expressed their disgust on Twitter after several videos of rowdy fans went viral.

In the video clips, the fans, who waited for hours at the airport for the arrival of Blackpink, were seen jumping barricades, running, pushing, and shoving one another at the arrival area just so they could get a glimpse of the girl group members and take photos of them. Some were even seen climbing up a police mobile to have a better view.

Security officials at the NAIA were also seen having a hard time controlling and barricading the wild crowd.

Commenting on the chaotic scene at the airport, netizen @Elvie_piador said, “Mga t*nga kung umayos lang kayo sana nakita nyo sila kinawayan at naka finger heart pa sa inyo kaso umiral yang ugaling pinoy na walang respeto! Maawa kayo sa di makapunta ng concert gusto pa umattend next concert. It seems like first and last na ‘to (You id*ots, if only you behaved well then you should have seen them waving and gesturing finger hearts at you but your rude Filipino attitude stood out! Consider those who cannot make it to the concert but still want to attend the next concert. It seems like this is their first and last concert here).”

Twitter user @Mhannwell, meanwhile, wrote, “I think this is so far one, if not the worst airport welcoming of a KPOP (Korean Pop) group/artists in PH (Philippines).”

She continued, “Many popular KPOP groups have been in our country but the level of chaos for BLACKPINK is just… so, so disappointing and embarrassing. I have no words.”

Some netizens said they understand how excited other Pinoy Blinks, knowing that they are breathing the same air with their idols, but the behavior they have shown at the airport was not right.

Several fans also speculated that Blackpink members were not happy with what happened at the NAIA as photos of them not smiling circulated online. This was different from their photos before when they were in South Korea where the girls were seen smiling and being bubbly.

“To think that they were so excited to see their PH fans only to be greeted so disrespectfully the moment they arrive,” social media user @daypinkeu said.

A fan account @IntelBLACKPINK, however, revealed the real score behind the girl group’s reaction.

Citing their “source” in a series of tweets, it said that Blackpink members wanted to go to the main exit to see their fans as they hear their chants, but not wanting to risk their safety, their manager did not allow the young artists.

It was reported that they went through the ramp, which is only for dignitaries in the country, to leave the area.

“The girls were smiling, laughing, and talking but when they [NAIA personnel] showed the video [of the crowd] and informed them that they’re going to use the VIP (very important person) exit, that’s when they felt sad,” Twitter user @IntelBLACKPINK said.

Blackpink, composing of Lisa, Jisoo, Jennie, and Rosé, will be performing on Saturday, February 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena (MOA) in Pasay City.