BLACKPINK's Jisoo cleared in garment non-return dispute as designer Benjamin Voortmans clarifies "It was never my intention to accuse her"

08 May 2026, 10:01 by Demian09 · allkpop

BLACKPINK member Jisoo has been officially cleared of any wrongdoing following a public clarification issued by fashion designer Benjamin Voortmans, founder of independent label Judassime, on May 8, 2026.

In a multi-part statement shared across his social media platforms, Voortmans explicitly stated that neither Jisoo nor her management company, Blissoo, were personally responsible for the handling or retention of the garments in question, while also acknowledging that his initial public remarks had created a misleading impression of the situation.

The dispute originated when Voortmans publicly claimed that garments loaned from his brand had not been returned following a planned photoshoot. The project had required the pieces to be shipped to Paris in December 2025 in preparation for a shoot scheduled to take place in South Korea involving Jisoo.

According to Voortmans, the shoot was postponed on multiple occasions over the following months, during which time the garments remained unaccounted for and no substantive communication was provided by the team involved. His attempts to resolve the matter through contractual and legal channels went unanswered, and his subsequent decision to publicly name Jisoo in connection with the dispute drew significant attention online, triggering widespread criticism and a substantial volume of negative commentary directed at the singer.

In his formal clarification, Voortmans was unequivocal in distancing Jisoo from any direct responsibility. He stated that neither Jisoo nor Blissoo ever stole, handled, shipped, or personally retained any of the garments, and emphasised that it had never been his intention to level a direct accusation against the artist. He further explained that the invoice he had issued to the team was conditional in nature, clarifying that it would only remain outstanding in the event that the garments were not returned. He confirmed that he has since received assurances from the relevant parties that the items will be returned in full.

Voortmans also took the opportunity to address the broader impact the situation has had on his professional livelihood. As the sole founder of an independent fashion label, he described the garments as carrying both significant emotional and financial value, noting that the extended period of uncertainty, compounded by a persistent lack of communication, had materially affected his brand's operations and prospects. Despite this, he made clear that responsibility for the breakdown lies with the administrative and communication processes surrounding the project, rather than with the artist herself.

Before issuing the written clarification, Voortmans had also released a video statement in which he explained that his decision to name Jisoo publicly was not intended to implicate her personally, but rather to prompt a response from the styling team associated with the project — a team with which he had been unable to establish direct communication through other means. In the same video, he explicitly called on the public to refrain from directing hostile or harmful comments toward Jisoo, acknowledging that his earlier statements had inadvertently contributed to the backlash she received.

The matter appears to be moving toward resolution following confirmation that the garments will be returned. Neither Jisoo nor representatives from Blissoo have issued a public statement at the time of publication.

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