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BLACKPINK’s highly anticipated new album was the centre of an unexpected controversy this week, after what appears to be an accidental early leak of the full project—including its track credits—sparked fresh debate among fans online.
Hours after the group shared teasers for their comeback, several songs and their official metadata were briefly uploaded to BLACKPINK’s YouTube channel before being taken down by the label. Alongside the leaks came detailed credits for each track, revealing the involvement of some surprising names—most notably American producer Dr Luke (born Łukasz Gottwald) on at least two songs titled ‘Me and My’ and ‘Champion’.
Dr Luke is a prominent hitmaker who has worked with many chart-topping artists, but his name carries baggage. In 2014, Pop star Kesha sued him, alleging that he had sexually, physically, emotionally and verbally abused her during the years working together—claims he has denied and that were ultimately dismissed by a court. His long legal battle with Kesha later evolved into defamation litigation, which the pair ultimately settled in 2023 after nearly a decade of public scrutiny.
That history has made Dr Luke’s association with BLACKPINK, one of the world’s biggest girl groups, a flashpoint for backlash. On social media, many fans expressed shock and frustration at seeing his name in the credits, questioning why a figure connected to such polarising allegations would be involved in the album’s creative process.
YG Entertainment has not publicly addressed the leak or the ensuing controversy, and the credited files were swiftly removed. For now, BLACKPINK’s official release schedule remains unchanged, with fans around the world waiting to see how the situation affects the album’s reception.
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