18-11-2023 (SAN FRANCISCO) K-pop superstar Rose emphasised the importance of acknowledging that even public figures face emotional struggles, during a mental health awareness event hosted by First Lady Jill Biden. The event, part of several gatherings for spouses of Asia-Pacific leaders at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in California, aimed to shed light on the significance of mental health, especially in the public eye.
Sitting on a slate grey couch at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, Rose, a member of the renowned supergroup BLACKPINK, shared her experiences of vulnerability due to her large social media following. She expressed the challenges of dealing with criticism and the perpetual feeling that her efforts are never enough. “And so, that comes to me as a sense of loneliness,” Rose admitted.
Addressing the difficulties of being in the public eye, she stressed the need to discuss such issues openly, even though it might be challenging. “Just as we feed ourselves for better health and fitness, mental health can only be maintained equally – if not more intentionally – as our physical well-being.”
The discussion was part of a series of events organised by Jill Biden, who hosted the spouses of Asia-Pacific leaders. Rose attended as a guest of Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
Jill Biden acknowledged the evolving attitudes towards mental health, particularly among younger generations. “People who are older – we never, ever spoke about mental health,” she said. “There was shame attached to it. But what I find as a teacher – and having my own younger grandchildren in their 20s – I think they’re much more open to talking to one another, I think there’s far less shame.”
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy moderated the event, with Apple CEO Tim Cook opening the proceedings. However, the teleprompter glitch briefly caught Cook off guard, prompting Jill Biden to express her dislike for such technical issues. Cook recovered by ad-libbing and later affirmed Apple’s commitment to privacy when questioned about the impact of artificial intelligence on mental health.
“Absolutely not actually,” Cook responded. “We believe that privacy is a fundamental human right.”
ROSÉ’s FULL SPEECH about Mental Health at the APEC Event (including Intro about her: GLOBAL SUPERSTAR)
“I have discovered however, that mental health is not the easiest of subjects. As for me, it required much patience and practice. And most importantly, lots of attention.”… pic.twitter.com/UP7yzDaZ8z
— HÉRSTORY (@herstoryRS) November 17, 2023
