Netizens are convinced Fatou is about be exiled from her girl group, and honestly I can’t blame them. Things are not looking good for the rapper.
Leia Drama Resurfaces
Fans of Blackswan have a lot to say about the treatment of Fatou since the early beginnings of the group.
Fatou definitely has have to bear a lot of challenges, namely being the first ever African K-pop idol. And if you you read my profile piece on here, you know I had a lot of positive things to say about her.
But since then, it just seems the girl can’t catch a break.
Every so often netizens love to bring up the drama with ex-Blackswan member Leia, and even in the big 2026, the drama remains fresh to some.
Here’s a recap for ya’ll on what happened:
Early Tensions Within the Group
In late 2021, Brazilian fanbases began circulating alleged private messages from someone claiming to be Leia’s relative, accusing Fatou of bullying Leia since early October. According to these messages, Leia had become withdrawn during livestreams and largely inactive on social media because of ongoing tension within the group.
The same claims alleged that Leia tried to report the situation to DR Music’s CEO, only for nothing to be done, and fans quickly noticed she had deleted multiple photos with Fatou.
While some fans were skeptical, especially because the Portuguese used in the leaked messages didn’t appear fully native, the situation escalated when Leia herself liked a tweet implying that Brazilian families would expose mistreatment and referencing DR Music’s questionable history. She later unliked it.
But the damage was already done.
Leia’s Allegations and Fan Reaction
Leia then broke nearly a year of silence on Twitter with a cryptic comment about people criticizing others’ Portuguese, which many fans interpreted as a direct response to those questioning the legitimacy of her alleged relatives’ messages.
Around the same time, fans resurfaced a comment from Leia’s mother under one of her Instagram posts reading, “You can trust this one, it would never betray you,” adding fuel to the idea that Leia’s family was backing her version of events.
By this point, the fandom was deeply divided, unsure whether this was a genuine bullying case or another example of DR Music letting a situation spiral out of control publicly.
Fatou Breaks Her Silence
That uncertainty didn’t last long, because Fatou responded, and she did not hold back. In a now-deleted Twitter statement that circulated widely on forums like KProfiles, Fatou accused Leia of being disruptive within the group, self-centered, and manipulative.
She described Leia as someone who consistently positioned herself as the victim, twisted situations to make others look bad, and demanded to be the center of attention despite being in a group setting.
Fatou cited specific incidents, including a moment at Music Bank where Leia allegedly escalated a minor disagreement about taking individual photos into a complaint against her, framing it as Fatou disliking her.
Fatou also claimed Leia frequently threatened to “ruin” the group once she left, openly joked that fans would side with her because she was Brazilian, and repeatedly denied saying things even when multiple people had heard her say them.
The statement grew even darker when Fatou alleged that Leia blamed her for mental health struggles and physical issues that predated her time in Blackswan, accused her of disrespecting Fatou’s family during a trip to Belgium, and resented Fatou for being able to see her family at all.
Fatou admitted that she eventually exploded during a confrontation in late October, saying harsh things she regretted, but maintained that the breakdown came after months of emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and what she described as performative apologies that never led to changed behavior.
While controversial, the sheer level of detail in Fatou’s account led many forum users to believe she was telling the truth. Even fans unfamiliar with Blackswan commented that the specificity of her examples made Leia’s side feel comparatively vague or “sketchy.”
DR Music’s Response and Leia’s Exit
DR Music’s response did little to clarify anything. Their statement was widely criticized as vague and noncommittal, offering no clear timeline, accountability, or resolution. Eventually, Leia exited the group quietly, with no formal reconciliation, apology, or explanation, leaving fans to piece together the narrative themselves.
Why the Drama Still Matters
The result was a permanent fracture in Blackswan’s fandom and a lingering reputation issue for Fatou, who, despite defending herself with receipts, became labeled by some as “difficult,” “aggressive,” or “dramatic.”
That context matters now more than ever. When people criticize Fatou today for lacking polish, rolling her eyes on live broadcasts, or being “too blunt,” they’re reacting to a version of her shaped by this very public implosion.
The Leia drama was ultimately a collision of cultural misunderstandings, poor management, racial undertones, and a company that consistently failed to intervene before things went nuclear. Fatou didn’t come out of it unscathed, but she did come out louder, less patient, and far less interested in pretending everything was fine.
Fatou at the 2025 Korea Supermodel Contest And Why Fans Say DR Isn’t Backing Her
Amid all the noise, one thing that should be universally celebrated is Fatou’s participation in the 2025 Supermodel Selection Contest, a major milestone that further proves she’s building a career beyond idol limitations.
The preliminary round of the 2025 Supermodel Selection Contest was held on September 15 at SBS Prism Tower in Sangam-dong, Seoul, where contestants who advanced to the finals posed together as a group. Fatou was among them.
For context, this competition isn’t some low-tier side event. The Supermodel Selection Contest is widely regarded as Korea’s most prestigious modeling competition, now in its 31st year, with a legacy of launching figures who went on to dominate not just fashion, but entertainment as a whole. Alumni include Lee So-ra, Hong Jin-kyung, Han Ye-seul, Nana, Lee Sung-kyung, Jin Ki-joo, and Shin Seung-ho.
The contest explicitly looks for models with talent, presence, and versatility, capable of working across fashion, media, and entertainment. In other words, exactly the kind of space where Fatou thrives.
Photos from the event show Fatou posing confidently alongside the other finalists, and fans were quick to express pride and excitement.
Many see this competition as a genuine opportunity to boost her relevance and credibility within the fashion and modeling industry, especially in Korea, an industry that has historically sidelined darker-skinned Black women.
However, this is also where frustration with DR Entertainment resurfaces.
Despite Fatou placing 3rd/4th overall in the competition and winning a popular vote category during the final round, fans noticed a glaring lack of promotion, acknowledgment, or visible support from her company.
Worse, during the months she was actively participating in the contest, she missed several official Blackswan schedules…absences that fans initially assumed were unavoidable.
That assumption fell apart when it became clear that at least one missed group schedule could have been attended without conflict, as Fatou’s modeling-related appearance was scheduled hours earlier the same day. No clear explanation was given until right before the event, reinforcing the perception that her solo achievements were being treated as inconvenient rather than celebrated.
To many fans, this pattern feels familiar: Fatou succeeds independently, yet her wins are quietly downplayed, while the group continues without her presence or acknowledgment.
That’s why, instead of focusing solely on the achievement itself, much of the fandom conversation has turned toward why DR Entertainment doesn’t seem eager to champion her growth, especially when that growth clearly benefits the group’s visibility and prestige. Like helloooooo.
Still, despite the lack of visible company support, Fatou’s advancement in such a high-profile competition speaks volumes. Simply being a finalist places her in rare company, and the exposure alone has already elevated her standing in fashion circles.
For now, fans are choosing to focus on the bigger picture:
Fatou stood among Korea’s top emerging models. And regardless of how her company moves, this moment was truly hers.
Shading Everyone in Sight? Fatou Lands Herself in Hot Water in 2026
As if running runways wasn’t enough, Fatou decided to drop some live-streamed commentary that had fans clutching their pearls.
According to Koreaboo, she’s been accused of shading multiple idols during a recent broadcast.
The claims are that she:
- She side-eyed ALLDAY PROJECT’s Tarzzan.
- She made a “rude face” when KISS OF LIFE was mentioned, even though she claimed to love their music.
- She casually shaded KATSEYE’s new song “Internet Girl”, prompting fans to ask: “What the hell is Internet Girl?”
The reactions were, let’s say… not subtle:
“More than media training, she needs EVERYTHING training. An ‘idol’ makes an effort to look presentable, control expressions… she looks like she woke up and went live.” — Lena, Twitter
“Does this woman even have a real job??? Why is she always shading other idols instead of promoting her flop solo or her group?” — MS, Twitter
The Tarzzan (ADP) Fallout and Why Fans Are “Crashing Out”
Let’s dig a little deeper on what happened during that live. Fatou was accused of shading Tarzzan, a member of ADP, despite never mentioning him by name.
During a live conversation with a Lumina (what fans of Blackswan call themselves), where Fatou was discussing cultural appropriation in hip hop. While responding to a point about non-Black people adopting exaggerated “gangsta” aesthetics, Fatou sarcastically remarked:
“I’m gonna put my pants down my ass. Oh yeah! You jealous?”
The comment was clearly framed as a general critique of stereotypes and performative behavior. However, Tarzzan fans immediately assumed it was about him, which only intensified the backlash.
As one Reddit commenter bluntly put it:
“The fact that Fatou made a generalized statement about people actively participating in CA and that group’s fans took that as an attack on him convinces me that they know exactly what he’s doing and they just don’t care.”
Another echoed the now-infamous refrain:
“Hit dogs holler.”
“She Never Said His Name. They Did”
One of the most consistent points raised across the thread is that Fatou never named Tarzzan. Fans connected the dots themselves , then treated that assumption as confirmation.
“She didn’t name a single name. They named him.”
“So very obviously, despite the constant denials, deep down, this is what ADP fans also think about that man.”
Several commenters pointed out the irony of fans insisting Tarzzan wasn’t appropriating Black culture, while simultaneously assuming he was the obvious target:
“People saying that Tarzzan was not appropriating Black culture but yet he’s the first they think about when people mention CA? I have some news for these people lol.”
Weaponizing the “Not African American” Argument
Much of the backlash centered on the claim that Fatou, as a Senegalese woman, has no right to speak on African American culture or hip hop, an argument many users called out as disingenuous at best and racist at worst.
“They’re saying a fully Korean guy who goes by the name ‘Tarzzan’ can appropriate Black culture, but a Black African woman shouldn’t speak because she’s ‘not Black American.’ That’s laughable.”
Another commenter highlighted how this logic collapses in real-world contexts:
“A lot of people in Asia won’t make a difference between you being Black American or Black African. They will just treat you like a Black person.”
And more bluntly:
“Antiblackness is a global issue for a reason.”
Many framed Fatou’s comments not as speaking over African Americans, but as diasporic solidarity:
“To me, her speaking on it is solidarity, not speaking over people.”
Racism, “Misogynoir,” and the Fan Response
As criticism escalated, so did the tone of the backlash. Fans reportedly resorted to calling Fatou slurs, accusing her of being “desperate,” and dismissing her career as irrelevant.
All while claiming Tarzzan “respects Black culture.”
One commenter summarized the contradiction succinctly:
“They will claim ‘cultural appreciation’ but are currently calling a Black woman slurs for not being enthused about that behavior.”
Another added:
“It’s racist, misogynistic loser behavior. I’m not even shocked.”
The Boycott of DR Entertainment
The Tarzzan discourse overlapped with ongoing frustration toward DR Entertainment, as fans accused the company of repeatedly sidelining Fatou.
Fans were quick to notice some eyebrow-raising social media behavior: at one point, the official BLACKSWAN and DR Entertainment accounts were not following Fatou on Instagram. Even messier? Reports circulated that Fatou herself had blocked the company following unresolved issues during a U.S. fanmeeting tour, where she allegedly felt unsupported behind the scenes.
That wasn’t the first red flag. Back in late 2023, Fatou allegedly called out staff for failing to pack her outfits for a scheduled appearance and for speaking negatively about her behind her back, forcing her to purchase her own clothes last minute.
Shortly after, she blocked the company for a period, deleting the post hours later but not before fans took screenshots and started asking questions DR never answered.
Fast-forward to more recent months, and Luminas began raising alarms again after Fatou was excluded from multiple group schedules, including a charity event performance she reportedly had ample time to attend. No clear explanation was offered until right before the event—fueling the belief that her absence wasn’t logistical, but deliberate.
Despite all this, it was confirmed in late 2025 that Fatou is still officially a member of BLACKSWAN. But the optics haven’t exactly screamed unity. Limited group interactions, awkward scheduling gaps, and radio silence from the company have only intensified the feeling that something is deeply off behind the scenes.
Despite Fatou placing 3rd/4th in a modeling competition and winning a popular vote category, she missed several Blackswan schedules, including a charity performance, even though timelines suggested she could have attended both events.
This culminated in fans mass-emailing the company and launching a boycott of Blackswan’s official channels and DR Entertainment, demanding transparency.
Why This Keeps Happening
Many commenters tied the situation back to broader industry patterns:
“She’s a very dark-skinned Black woman in a company that doesn’t care about their Black talent.”
“They lifted responsibility off themselves and put it on her.”
Others openly hoped Fatou would eventually leave DR:
“She’s both beautiful and talented. I hope her modeling works out for her under a company that isn’t openly racist.”
(See the original Reddit thread here)
The Part Everyone Forgets: Fatou’s Mental Health Was Already on the Line
Lost in the stan wars, boycott hashtags, and “media training” discourse is an uncomfortable truth: Fatou has already been pushed to a breaking point once before, and she’s said so herself.
During a truth segment on the MBC show Gone PD, Fatou opened up about her mental state following the departure of former Blackswan members in 2022.
“We lived on the 10th floor. I looked down, I opened the window… but suddenly I thought of my mom. You can’t do this to your mom.”
She admitted that after the members left, she felt like her life had lost its meaning. She isolated herself. She drank. She stayed inside. And for a moment, she genuinely considered ending her life.
Let that sink in.
I feel Fatou, I really do. As one of my more serious posts on here, I do hope Fatou does what is right for her.
Even if that means leaving her group…or perhaps the K-pop industry for good.
Seems like I am not the only one rooting for her. Comment below your thoughts on the whole situation. Do you think Fatou will leave Blackswan?
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