NewJeans have definitely gone through a lot these past few months and 2024 seems to be not going entirely well for them, despite releasing back-to-back hit songs (as usual).
K-pop fans were incredibly surprised to be greeted by the news of NewJeans personally speaking up about the ongoing dispute between HYBE and Min Hee-jin. To be exact, this was the first time that NewJeans took it to themselves to speak up—and with a YouTube channel that was not their official account.
https://x.com/PopBase/status/1833812113061462055
The livestream saw the NewJeans members with serious looks on their faces, complete with notebooks on a table for them to keep note of what they really wanted to say about the issue. The members also spoke both in Korean and in English, sending their messages across to both Korean and non-Korean audiences.
TL;DR: NewJeans emphasized the importance of Min Hee-jin to their image, music, and vision, as well as some personal experiences and reflections that they’ve thought of while this was ongoing. NewJeans also requested that HYBE reinstate Min Hee-jin as ADOR’s CEO.
K-pop fans had a myriad of reactions and there seems to be an apparent divide happening: Those in support of NewJeans and HYBE fans.
Those in support of NewJeans, which were Bunnies (their fandom) and other K-pop fans, rallied on social media to show how they are on NewJeans’ sides.
For everyone's information: They did today's live by themselves. MHJ didn't know, Staff of ADOR didn't know too.
— . (@NJBUBBLEGUM) September 11, 2024
7mins34secs of silence before the girls started to speak. they waited for bunnies to join the livestream.
they had their notes, their thoughts written down, bullet points of topics they wanted to discuss.
this wasn't scripted, but y'all dimwitted stans claim it is.— PoppyKPoppie (@PoppyKPoppie) September 11, 2024
newjeans said that they were scared when they saw the videos that source/hybe leaked of them (as minors dancing to sexualised choreography & inappropriate songs)
— HURT SOTY 𓃹 (@hurtsaz) September 11, 2024
one thing that i noticed:
actors, idols, creatives, general public and the COURT sided with newjeans.
only HYBE and their fans are against newjeans. they are trying their hardest to twists their words and put them into the bad light.— dagawa 𝞋𝞎 (@rinaacte) September 11, 2024
NewJeans are facing sexual harassment, bullying, and being cornered by everyone, all orchestrated by HYBE, leaving them mentally exhausted. HYBE is even creating fake articles to turn the general public against them, yet some of you still don’t see the issue here?
— ata (@leshrimpseafood) September 11, 2024
you dont understand how desperate, scared & frustrated these girls must be to stand up against a conglomerate like hybe, the young girls that were caught up in adults fights had no one to back them up stood up for themselves & protect themselves without hiding behind the company
— fau🫧ﾟ*｡･ (@newjimuse) September 11, 2024
few months ago hybe employees were caught on forums mocking newjeans members so this was not surprising to say the least, however coming straight from a member’s mouth, the confirmation is shocking. https://t.co/l10ATNAQ3n pic.twitter.com/4h6L8T61kI
— sky (@mongtoni) September 11, 2024
i have never seen her this upset it scares me. the happiest girl in the world being treated like shit and speaking up is the most scariest shit you’ll ever witness pic.twitter.com/Bd0VatGqUu
— seo ᯓᡣ𐭩 (@jeanszinee) September 11, 2024
there will never be another group like newjeans pic.twitter.com/TzdlSQMb5F
— ali (@sooyapaved) September 11, 2024
y’all be wanting idols to speak up against their companies but when they actually do y’all call them manipulated and evil just because your fav group is from that said company…newjeans we love you. https://t.co/kCmuo9OGbb
— 갈로르 (@galorbie) September 11, 2024
They’re quite literally changing the idol industry, taking a stand for all the abuse they’ve faced against one of the biggest conglomerates in the music industry. Can you imagine how much courage NewJeans’ strength to speak out will give to other victims of abuse in the industry? https://t.co/6WfhslcZq0
— nil 𝜗𝜚 (@newjiram) September 11, 2024
New jeans the only victim in this whole situation and they’ll probably be the ones to suffer all the losses…
— Nicolas is happy (@niggaolas) September 11, 2024
TO STAND UP FOR JUSTICE
TO STAND UP FOR NEWJEANS
HYBE IS NOT A LEGITIMATE COMPANY
HYBE IS OVER
WE LOVE NEWJEANS— 𓆩♡𓆪 (@cuntyreveluv) September 11, 2024
newjeans the first grp to FINALLY stand up against hybe 😭🩷pic.twitter.com/pQU61TrbCk
— ⚡️Yoizz⚡️ (@criminalchae) September 11, 2024
the fact that they had to resort to a live nobody knew about is because they really don’t have anyone who is on their side anymore except for tokkis
they’re so brave for speaking up about everything, we love you newjeans so so much— hanni archive (@archivehanni) September 11, 2024
the way kpop stans scream mistreatment over the smallest things line distribution and hair color but the second a kpop group speaks up about actual mistreatment then suddenly they’re ungrateful and manipulated and calculated and bullies…. y’all make me sick
— jjunee (@june_wildflower) September 11, 2024
On the contrary, HYBE fans were pointing out how the girls kept mentioning Min Hee-jin, calling them weird for doing so, and essentially made fun of NewJeans and how “they could order a big company around”.
Im sorry, but I side with that manager.
newjeans have shown loud support for a pedo, an SA enabler, and a woman who brought mass hate to other groups.
I would tell anyone to ignore your entitled ass https://t.co/aLIYYcPkWU
— jjunie babe (@BluSpri) September 11, 2024
danielle: wants to be treated as a human, asks for the BARE MINIMUM, and wants the harassment to stop
stans: pic.twitter.com/snCFtoVktN
— ౨ৎ NewJeans Closet (@newjeanscloset_) September 11, 2024
hybe fandoms saw newjeans speaking out about their mistreatment and had to come up with something asap to make it about their faves pic.twitter.com/STzJmPAbug
— ؘ (@newjified) September 11, 2024
during the live, newjeans literally talked about them being bullied at their workplace, their contents getting sabotaged, and their teams getting replaced, etc.
but for some reason, kpop stans only posted videos about the members talking about MHJ to make the girls look weird… https://t.co/qbskdY9CCe
— shie (pouchwonki) (@shiecollects) September 11, 2024
Newjeans turned on a YouTube live broadcast to gain sympathy, but they're receiving a lot of criticism among Knetz due to their incredibly stupid words and actions. They're just a bunch of whiners who don't even understand what a contract is. pic.twitter.com/cp8iVsMXf1
— Sniper21 (@Sniper71232) September 11, 2024
People are funny. What was the concern hanni went to the ceo about? That is the question. If it wasn’t impertinent what was there to address. MHJ cultivated spoiled brats someone needs to teach them humility, responsibility and appreciation. Their music is generic, their dancing…
— OT7 with a SUGA PROBLEM (@SugaHopebias48) September 11, 2024
Okay NewJeans made a public separate YouTube channel from HYBE to continue to openly support Min Heejin what the actual FUCK. "We all feel that she is irreplaceable" yeah fuck off WHAT THE FUCK.
— Niclas (@NiclasObrovac) September 11, 2024
Newjeans: our ceo isn’t listening to our concerns and are not taking them seriously, we are going through mistreatment and no one seems to care
Army’s: BTS never complained and about their mistreatment and their parents stayed silent watching their kids in pain. Learn to suffer https://t.co/JxC3rGIPg9
— Myra ❃ ⁷²² (@22KMJ) September 11, 2024
Newjeans criticized Ador through a YouTube live broadcast. They also made the foolish claim that they, not the company, own the copyright to their music videos. It seems they are likely to file a lawsuit for contract termination. pic.twitter.com/EU3XKOYs6T
— Sniper21 (@Sniper71232) September 11, 2024
Newjeans attacking other Idols again, acting like their cult mama. Like mother, like daughter. https://t.co/xcPChIxxiK pic.twitter.com/eIVbsajfEY
— Sniper21 (@Sniper71232) September 11, 2024
what's funny about this situation is that if newjeans don't like it there they can leave, nobody is tying them up on the chair, they stay because they know that bts money and reputation is convenient for them
— mas (@yoongovrt) September 11, 2024
Hybe employees calling NewJeans speaking up for mistreatment a “shit show” … company full of misogynist incels https://t.co/GmN7x8N1sz
— harley (@oIdpistoIa) September 11, 2024
It’s disappointing, but not surprising that this kind of thinking is still rampant even at this time. Some fans, sadly, would still choose to support their favorite groups by spreading hate towards another group and completely use the victim card when they’re called out for it.
It’s unthinkable, to be honest, that people would still choose hate than support a group that’s spoken up about the horrible things they’ve experienced from several others. Some K-pop fans did say it best: fans can keep saying that they’re supportive of groups that speak out against mistreatment and how they’re against abuse.
But when a group they hate speaks up against the ill-treatment and abuse they’ve experienced, some fans become silent and even play the victim card.
Seriously, these kinds of K-pop fans should read the room and log off from the Internet. There’s too much brain rot in their heads, at this point.
NewJeans, we’re in full support for you, whatever you plan to do. All 5 of you were extremely brave for speaking out against that company.
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