***While this is coming from a black person, I do not speak for all black people.
I wanted to add my little two cents with the recent videos of blackpink members saying the n-word. I personally don’t get mad at people from non-western countries saying the n-word because at the end of the day they don’t know the history behind the word. Basically anyone who lives in the anglosphere (North America, Europe, Australia) should know what the n word is and its history but I don’t expect someone from Africa, South America or much of Asia to know (although antiblackness is prevalent in most cultures but that's a conversation for another time).
I would compare it to the use of the rising sun symbol, Asians would take offense to someone parading it around but I have to admit I didn’t know what the rising sun was or what it represented until I got into kpop. Most people in America would also have no clue and while I'm not European I don’t think Europeans would get it either. To use the word for me context matters because if you are saying it in a song lyric (like most idols and people) I can’t really be mad. It's a bit harder to defend in any other context though. I’m not saying that it's not a big deal but people are too quick to antagonize others for using the word. I’d rather give the person who said an explanation why it's wrong and hurtful to use the word. If they still continue to say it then it becomes a problem. People can grow and recognize their ignorance it's just most times they aren't given the chance.
Also I’ve seen others say that it takes an effort to take it out of their vocabulary but if you are a non-black person why in the world would that be part of your vocabulary in the first place? I think it's very performative when kpop fans attack groups or idols for saying the word because to them it's like a gotcha moment (specifically the “but namjoon” crowd) or just another reason to drag someone they don’t like. It's just another card they can pull for fan wars without recognizing the significance and pain that word has on black people.
Idols who I think can’t be excused from the top of my head:
Rosé (born in NZ raised in Australia + her age at the time of saying it)
Jennie (went to school in NZ + her age)
Jaehyun (although he left America when he was 10, american schools teach slavery by the time he got to that age and kids definitely know not to say that word)
Namjoon (mr. special talent is speaking like a black person was totally aware that he was picking up a blaccent and aave while learning english and thought it was cool to include during his early talk shows)
