New Dating Rumors Emerge as Jennie Spotted with Actor in Vancouver

The social media sphere has gone haywire in the past week after several accounts reported BLACKPINK's Jennie hanging out in Vancouver with American actor Nico Hiraga, which kicked off dating rumors. 

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The timing is interesting as it happened amidst all the speculation about Jennie's undefined relationship with BTS's V still unconfirmed. It demonstrates the fascination with the relationship lives of many K-pop idols.

Fan Reactions: Outrage and Dismissal

The BLINK fandom responded immediately, with many calling for privacy and insisting that the allegations were unfounded. "God forbid JENNIE can't even stand next to a male without these losers making worthless rumors," one fan tweeted. Others insisted that the two probably had a platonic relationship, pointing out that Jennie was said to be in Vancouver for a holiday from BLACKPINK's busy schedule. 

It fits with Jennie's rumored past relationships, especially related to the rumors surrounding her relationships with EXO's Kai and BTS V, which have never been confirmed. 

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Kpop posted on X Jennie and New Boyfriend Nico Hiraga found on Canada from 2024 - (news18.com)

History of Dating Speculation

Many celebrities were claimed to have even dated Jennie before, with V (Kim Taehyung) from BTS being a prominent one. The mainstream, English tabloids reported the viral images from Paris of Jennie and V holding hands in 2023, but both HYBE and YG were unable to comment on a relationship. 

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Since that moment last year when Jennie was outed for her social media posts on Instagram and on lyrics in her solo song "Seoul City," which alluded to V in some way, there has, on some level, been a public interest in the two that has never fully gone away. Reports about the couple pawning items before V's enlistment suggested a sort of conclusion, but fans continue to scrutinize everything they can find, including wardrobe changes and social media posts, in search of conclusive evidence.

The Larger Picture: Privacy and Professionalism

Dating rumors and speculation are a common occurrence in the K-pop polling process, mostly due to the public's overinterest in idols' personal lives. Jennie, who is presently one of the most followed Korean celebrities on Instagram, has stayed more or less on the path of professionalism. 

She has had a successful start to 2023 with the release date revealed her first studio album, RUBY, and being scheduled to perform at Coachella 2025. BLACKPINK will also take on a world tour in 2023 with their upcoming DEADLINE World Tour, allowing BLACKPINK to continue the tour as a professional priority in an otherwise distracting situation.

More than Rumors: The Broader Implications of Idol Well-Being

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While the Vancouver sighting created a spike in interest, there is no evidence to give credence to a romance between Jennie and Nico Hiraga. More importantly, this also signals the conundrum that idols face when trying to balance the inherently invasive public need for personal information and their private lives, which they as idols have a right to; the interest from the public is often relentless. 

As BLACKPINK continues their global reign, this serves as a reminder to respect each idol and recognize that constant overreach is unhelpful. Focusing on their art rather than personal matters is a better way to show support.