Netizens Have Mixed Reactions About How The Weeknd Announced His And BLACKPINK Jennie’s Collab For “The Idol”

Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor The Weeknd (also known as Abel Tesfaye) has garnered mixed reactions from netizens for how he announced his and BLACKPINK Jennie‘s collaboration.

The Weeknd in “The Idol” | HBO Jennie in “The Idol” | HBO

Since a snippet of an unreleased song was heard at Jennie’s Calvin Klein collection launch party, BLINKs have been anticipating it, especially as they believed it was a collab between her and The Weeknd.

WHAT’S THIS SONG HELLO#JENNIEforCALVINKLEIN pic.twitter.com/iGlj2Aapn7

— jennie loops (@jnkloops) May 10, 2023

JENNIE FT THE WEEKND IS COMIMG AAAAHHH https://t.co/aC4jfTt9jC

— Jos(u)e (@darjgonz) May 10, 2023

Netizens suspected it would be released later along with HBO‘s new series The Idol, which both The Weeknd and Jennie appear in. While there are a few original songs for the show, as it’s about the music industry, they are being released weekly with new episodes.

Jennie dancing in “The Idol” | HBO

Now, The Weeknd has teased that Jennie’s anticipated song will release. Yet, the way he did it has been met with mixed reactions.

The Weeknd had shared a tweet announcing that Episode 3 of The Idol was now out on HBO Max. A netizen quote-tweeted with a racist comment directed toward the Weeknd, saying that he, Jennie, and everyone involved in The Idol would go to hell.

The Weeknd responded to the hate tweet, which has now been removed for violating Twitter’s guidelines. He said, “tell us how you really feel… jeez.” 

tell us how you really feel… jeez https://t.co/VrJhvmjhke

— Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) June 20, 2023

Netizens were disturbed that The Weeknd took the time to respond to a random racist troll on the internet than address actual criticisms about The Idol. Some questioned that he even did it with ulterior motives since the account had a profile picture of BTS‘s V so that it could spark fan wars between ARMYs and BLINKs, but it was not an authentic ARMY account.

And before yall say “more concerned about the pfp vs the racist comment” yes the comment is racist asf and disgusting and wrong, i highly suggest we all report the acc to get it taken down but this is still a troll acc and if i was a celebrity i wouldnt waste my time qting a…

— Dri ◡̈ festa (@Spicydri) June 20, 2023

A celeb, likely with a social media manager, who is fully aware of how this side of twitter works but chooses to amplify the most vile yet random of tweets from an account with 2 followers does this on purpose to warrant specific responses amongst groups. Blocked both so fast.

— Rafranz ⁷ (@rafranzdavis) June 20, 2023

Bro he’s a fake account

— kylia ﾒ???? (@idolabel) June 20, 2023

It didn’t end there, though. The Weeknd continued to reply to hate tweets.

Bruh if you don’t shave that shit stain off your chin LOL https://t.co/eC4P6XWo0f

— Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) June 20, 2023

A netizen quote-tweeted him, saying he had no right to say anything about someone’s appearance when he looks “hideous.” Of course, he replied to this tweet too.

IK YOURE NOT TALKING WHEN U LOOK HIDEOUS LIKE THIS https://t.co/T8sZyLSmNy pic.twitter.com/EBBWJsOKeA

— midnicity! (@johndilfie) June 20, 2023

Previously, this same Twitter user had posted a now-deleted hate comment to The Weeknd, who replied, “Go cry about it more.” 

Go cry about it more https://t.co/kQPqO96mpw

— Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) June 20, 2023

When The Weeknd saw that the user had replied to another hate comment on his Twitter, he responded again. He called them out for changing their profile picture while telling them to be prepared because Jennie’s new song would be released this weekend.

not you again LOL you thought I wouldn’t recognize you cause you changed your DP… dropping that Jennie song this weekend for you! Get the bucket ready https://t.co/VRrndMgvpB

— Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) June 20, 2023

This was the first official announcement for Jennie’s new song. Some thought it was amusing that this is how we found out.

If you told me the weeknd would announce his collab with Jennie while beefing on twitter in 2020 I would look at you crazy

— ✮ ¹⁶ (@AIRJENS) June 20, 2023

announcing it this way is hilarious af, anw jennie's music THIS WEEKND pic.twitter.com/ZbZQyUZcx4 https://t.co/Kxb2m7uhHf

— ????. (@jendamrights) June 20, 2023

Most were just happy to finally get new music from Jennie. The overwhelming majority was disappointed that not only did The Weeknd keep responding to hate comments but that he used it as a way to make such an important announcement.

the weeknd can be as dumb as he wants i just want that jennie song pic.twitter.com/6tnI43lP1Y

— ed hacker’s representative (@ninggrande) June 20, 2023

Other fans of Jennie are actually disappointed about the collaboration now. They feel that she is continually exploited, and it’s untimely, considering The Weeknd is under much backlash for his controversial role in The Idol.

the way this is thee WORST time for Jennie to release a song with The Weeknd nobody likes this man anymore ohmygod we never truly win pic.twitter.com/YOvon4vnFB

— cin♕︎ (@jnkgalore) June 20, 2023

Weeknd really using Jennie's name amidst the backlash, he is really going to hell. Such a disappointing piece of shit.

— its° (@MelKookin) June 20, 2023

Read more below.

“They Didn’t Let Her Talk…”: HBO Show “The Idol” Exposed For Exploiting BLACKPINK’s Jennie And More