BLACKPINK’s Lisa, aka Lalisa Manobal, debuted as an actress in The White Lotus Season 3, where she portrayed Mook, a Thai local and health mentor at a high-end resort. Lisa’s character had a straightforward but interesting storyline throughout the season, which also involved a romantic relationship with Gaitok, the security guard at the resort, played by Tayme Thapthimthong. Audiences were impressed by her performance, but the series finale on April 6 has drawn mixed reactions regarding the conclusion of her character.
Allegations of Nepotism Surface Again
As the finale of The White Lotus Season 3 hit the airwaves, long-surfacing accusations of nepotism and favoritism cropped up again. Journalist Louis Pisano trolled Lisa’s screen time in an X post, citing a November 2023 Vanity Fair story that had included Lisa among other leading stars such as Zendaya, Nicole Kidman, and Dev Patel in its 2025 Hollywood Issue. Pisano noted that Lisa’s on-screen time in The White Lotus was just 10 minutes, implying that the brief appearance was not enough to warrant her place among Hollywood stars. The post sparked renewed discussions regarding Lisa’s Hollywood credentials, with some people accusing her of leveraging her supposed relationship with Frédéric Arnault to be offered such a role.
I would do anything to make Mook smile. #TheWhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/Qz4Onx4OIL
— HBO (@HBO) April 7, 2025
Also Read: Jennie takes the throne! BLACKPINK star wins big with 3rd Champion Trophy for “Like Jennie”
Fans Defend Lisa’s Role
Amidst the backlash, fans came to Lisa’s defense, stating that her feature in the Vanity Fair issue was deserved because of her increasing influence and presence on The White Lotus. One fan countered that Zendaya’s small appearance in Dune didn’t take away from her shine, noting that publicity and advertisements play important roles in Hollywood deliberations. Others pointed out that Lisa’s presence on the show had helped it receive a substantial rise in viewership, with others even estimating the show’s ratings had increased by a whopping 57% because of her.
View this post on Instagram
The White Lotus Season 3 is also available on JioHotstar for Indian audiences.
mook when gaitok told her he wants to quit his job vs mook when gaitok finally got that promotion she’s just an ambitious girl and can’t afford to have a broke man by her side! #thewhitelotus pic.twitter.com/HAOqkEk0rr
— sia ❄️ | fan (@lalisalovemme) April 7, 2025
