Did BLACKPINK’s Jennie Hint at Ex-Boyfriends During 2025 MMA Performance? Discover the Truth

Jennie’s Viral Performance at the 2025 Melon Music Awards: More Than Just Speculation

BLACKPINK’s Jennie captured the spotlight at the 2025 Melon Music Awards, with her performance prompting a flurry of speculation regarding her past relationships. However, the details behind her act paint a different picture.

A Stellar Performance

On December 20, during an electrifying show at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, Jennie presented her popular single “Like Jennie.”The song features a lyric that reads, “No, I’m not thinking about no exes, know they miss me.” As she performed this line, her smirk and engagement with the audience led to rampant speculation online that she was referencing her rumored ex-partners, Kai from EXO and G-Dragon from BIGBANG, both of whom were said to be present at the event, according to Koreaboo.

Understanding the Context

This footage quickly gained traction on various social media platforms, with fans crafting memes and theories about the perceived shade. Previous reports had highlighted a brief relationship with EXO’s Kai in 2019, which ended shortly after its public exposure, and rumors surrounding a romance with G-Dragon caught fire in 2021, especially following an ambiguous comment from YG Entertainment.

Fact-Checking the Speculation

Despite the buzz, a closer examination of the event’s seating arrangements reveals that neither of the supposed exes were actually present during Jennie’s performance. Discrepancies were found, indicating that Kai had exited the venue after performing with EXO, while G-Dragon was not located in the artist section at all during her set. Audience footage corroborated that neither were in attendance at that time.

Lyric Origins and Intent

It’s also noteworthy that the lyric in question was penned long before the MMA ceremony. Released as the fourth single from her debut solo album, Ruby, in March 2025, Jennie has described “Like Jennie”as a celebration of her own identity and confidence—not aimed at any specific individuals.

A Historic Night for Jennie

Regardless of the speculation, the evening was pivotal for Jennie. She made history by becoming the first solo artist to win the Record of the Year (Daesang) at the MMAs, in addition to receiving Top 10 Artist and Millions Top 10 accolades. In a heartfelt acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude for her 50 backup dancers and production team while also sharing her affection for her fellow BLACKPINK members.