Allegations of HYBE 'erasing' NewJeans spark outrage among netizens

Comments flooded social media platforms, with users expressing disbelief and frustration at HYBE's alleged actions.

On May 13, a post titled "HYBE Has Begun Erasing NewJeans" ignited a storm of controversy across online communities. The post highlighted several news headlines that suggested ILLIT, a group under HYBE, had
overshadowed NewJeans, despite a viral poll indicating otherwise.

One headline questioned whether NewJeans' brand power had plummeted, while another touted ILLIT as Bang Si Hyuk's new group, referring to NewJeans as "Unnies" and implying they were older. Netizens reacted
with outrage, accusing HYBE of engaging in manipulative media tactics to undermine NewJeans' reputation and achievements.

Comments flooded social media platforms, with users expressing disbelief and frustration at HYBE's alleged actions. Many questioned the credibility of the media reports and condemned HYBE for what they
perceived as malicious manipulation of public perception.

In the midst of the controversy, a parent of a NewJeans member came forward to reveal HYBE's purported plans to put the group on a long hiatus, further fuelling speculation about the company's intentions.
The letter, dated March 31, 2024, accuses HYBE, particularly Bang Si Hyuk and BELIFT LAB, of orchestrating intentional similarities between NewJeans and ILLIT, a newly debuted group under HYBE. Parents and legal guardians of NewJeans members allege that this deliberate mirroring extends across various aspects including concept, styling, music videos, and choreography, raising suspicions of plagiarism aimed at sabotaging NewJeans.

The broader context of the conflict traces back to HYBE's audit of ADOR, which reportedly aimed to wrestle management rights away from Min Hee Jin. However, she refutes these claims, pivoting the focus to the contentious issue of concept copying. This multifaceted conflict not only encompasses corporate power struggles but also artistic integrity and the future prospects of artists within both companies.

Direct accusations are hurled at Bang Si Hyuk, who initially promised NewJeans as HYBE's debut group but later diverted plans to debut LE SSERAFIM under Source Music. This deviation from the promised path
adds fuel to the already raging fire of discontent. The letter explicitly calls out Bang Si Hyuk's involvement in the alleged plagiarism, complicating the already strained relationship between the
two companies.