BLACKPINK’s Rosé advocates for mental health awareness at Jill Biden-hosted summit
By Ryan General
K-pop star Rosé of BLACKPINK addressed the challenges of fame, social media and the importance of prioritizing mental health during an event on Nov. 17 at Apple’s Cupertino campus.
Advocating for mental health: Aimed at mental health awareness, the gathering, part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, was hosted by U.S. First Lady Jill Biden at the Steve Jobs Theater. Dr. Biden introduced Rosé as a global superstar using her platform for good, particularly as an advocate for mental health.
Opening up about struggles: Speaking at the panel, the 26-year-old K-pop star highlighted the vulnerability she experiences due to her substantial social media following, where she is often bombarded with criticism.
“I do feel like some of the things I do is just never enough, and no matter how hard I work on something, there’s always gonna be somebody who has their own opinion or who enjoy taking control of the narrative,” she said. “And so, that comes to me as a sense of loneliness.”
Prioritizing mental well-being: In her short speech before the discussions, Rosé opened up about the emotional struggles that accompany fame. She acknowledged the difficulties that come with her successful career, emphasizing the need to prioritize her mental well-being.
“In all honesty, my journey hasn’t always been the easiest for me. There have been valleys and trenches, and I have definitely faced some difficult trials along the way. These trials later became lessons for me to learn that, in order for me to create and share positivity through my music, my mental health needs to be taken care of as a matter of priority.”
Rosé stressed the importance of discussing such struggles openly, encouraging others in the public eye to acknowledge their emotional challenges.
“I have discovered, however, that mental health is not the easiest of subjects. For me, it required much patience and practice but, most importantly, lots and lots of attention. Just as we train ourselves for better health and fitness, mental health can only be maintained with equally, if not more, attention as our physical well-being.”
More from the event: During the event Dr. Biden highlighted how younger generations are more open to mental health conversations, reducing stigmas surrounding the issue. The discussion also featured insights from Apple CEO Tim Cook and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who moderated the panel.
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