BLACKPINK’s Lisa recently stepped away from her packed schedule to visit Punch, the viral monkey, during a trip to Japan.

The singer and actor stopped by Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, located just outside Tokyo, over the weekend on Saturday March 7. While there, she shared photos from the visit, including moments where she saw the monkey that has recently captured attention online.

Punch is a young macaque who gained widespread attention on social media after videos showed him being picked on by other monkeys in his enclosure. Zoo staff later gave him a plush toy for comfort, and he has since been seen carrying the stuffed animal around almost constantly.

During her visit, Lisa brought along a stuffed orange orangutan that closely resembled Punch’s own toy. She was seen lifting it up so the baby macaque could notice it from his enclosure.

She also shared her excitement about the trip through Instagram Stories, uploading several photos of herself posing with the plush toy.

The outing comes during an especially busy stretch for Lisa, who recently reunited with her fellow BLACKPINK members to release a long awaited EP titled ‘DEADLINE’.

The project, described as a mini album, includes last summer’s popular single ‘Jump’ along with additional tracks titled ‘Me And My’, ‘Go’, ‘Champion’, and ‘Fxxxboy’.

The release follows the group’s return to the stage for a huge stadium tour last year after Lisa, Rosé, Jisoo and Jennie had each focused on their own solo projects in previous years.

Lisa is also continuing to build her acting career. She is currently working on a new film titled Tygo in South Korea and has been rumored to join a Netflix romantic comedy inspired by Notting Hill.

She previously landed a major role in the third season of the HBO series The White Lotus, where she appears alongside Patrick Schwarzenegger, Walton Goggins, Aimee Lee Wood, Jason Isaacs and several other cast members.

 
 

Zara Larsson has indicated that she may have cancelled her December 3 appearance at the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The singer initially confirmed that she would not attend, before removing the comment and sharing a more detailed explanation of why the performance no longer feels right for her.

The Swedish star was scheduled to take the stage at Etihad Live on Yas Island during the Yasalam After-Race Concerts. Zara and Lewis Capaldi were due to launch the weekend’s entertainment. However, supporters encouraged her to reconsider the booking because of concerns surrounding the United Arab Emirates’ reported connections to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary organisation accused of committing atrocities during the nation’s civil conflict.

A fan commented: “Please read about what UAE is doing to Sudan then cancel your Abu Dhabi show!” Zara responded: “I will not be going to Abu Dhabi.” Fans later realised that both comments had been removed.

She then shared that she had been considering what it means for her, as an artist, to perform in particular countries.

The Midnight Sun singer explained: “I think about that a lot in my life as an artist… I wanna perform and spread joy and music for people in every country, because no single person is their government.

“I’ve met so many wonderful people from every corner of the world and I know this to be true in my heart. I love people, and I love my fans soooo much.”

Zara acknowledged that her original comment “maybe came off as an impulsive response,” but explained that she had given the booking serious thought. She now believes withdrawing is the decision that “aligns with me the most right now, for many different personal reasons beyond politics.”

She continued: “Maybe I’ll delete both comments and do a better statement soon. I hope to sing with you in the beautiful future!”

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