As NewJeans declared an all-out war against their parent company HYBE, Hanni opened up on being discriminated against by other artists, and staff.
On Sept. 11th, the quintet surprised the K-pop industry after finally speaking out about their recent status in the middle of the intensifying HYBE-ADOR conflict.
In a now-deleted YouTube channel, the members held a 30-minute live broadcast to call out Chairman Bang Si Hyuk, co-artists, and staff as well as unveiled mistreatments they had to experience following the controversy.
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Clearly, NewJeans expressed their full support to former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and demanded HYBE to restore the sub-label’s original system. The members also talked about what they had to suffer as isolation from other artists started to be felt while the case was ongoing.
Hanni particularly shared a sad anecdote with a certain HYBE group and manager who purposely decided to avoid NewJeans. She narrated:
“On the 4th floor of the HYBE building, there’s a hair & makeup room. I was waiting alone in the hallway when other team members and a manager passed by. We greeted each other, but when they came back, the manager told them to ignore me. Right in front of me. I could hear and see everything, but their managers told them, ‘Ignore her.’ Even now, I don’t understand why I had to go through that. I think it’s ridiculous.”
NewJeans’ Hanni during their livestream:
— “On the 4th floor of the HYBE building there’s a room to get hair/make up done. One day, a group and their manager passed by and we greeted each other. They came back again and I heard their manager say “ignore her”.” pic.twitter.com/spjewiww84
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) September 11, 2024
The leader of the team, Minji, was perplexed after hearing Hanni’s story and added:
“I was lost for words when I heard the story that Hanni went through. How could a manager of a team pass by and tell a member of that team to ignore Hanni?
She went through something unimaginable, and they didn’t even apologize or admit their wrongdoing. I’m worried that similar things will happen again and that there’s no one to protect her. She’ll be ostracized.”
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When this particular part of the broadcast was shared on X, it garnered over 10 million views and thousands of comments from netters.
But in a turn of events, Hanni didn’t gain the sympathy of K-pop stans and faced backlash instead, earning comments about how she deserves to be treated like that.
Based on the comments, various fandoms were disappointed by NewJeans supporting Min Hee Jin, who initially colluded with Bang Si Hyuk to bring down NewJeans’ rivals like aespa.
Min was also the one who accused ILLIT of being a copycat of the group, as well as targeted LE SSERAFIM for debuting first than NewJeans.
Here are some of the comments:
You deserve worse treatment actually.. being sided with a pedo who attack all hybe idols then expecting a good returns from them WHAT ?
— 💋☀️ (@SICKTEAR7) 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
Your parents, your team, your precious MHJ were harassing other idols for months non stop and you had the audacity to giggle along with it and act like it was okay and now you’re surprised when they don’t wanna talk to you??? It’s giving https://t.co/ntvECqWYYU pic.twitter.com/9Rq52Bjt5d
— ⟭⟬⁷ (@smilehoya97) September 11, 2024
It’s so funny because she was supporting the humiliation mhj was causing to a group that hadn’t even been 3 weeks since their debut, i can’t feel sorry for you because you didn’t feel sorry for the girls who were just starting their careers https://t.co/NHC4OFt73k pic.twitter.com/NpxIoaORMZ
— mipi 🐣 (@_97959492) September 11, 2024
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
RELATED ARTICLE: NewJeans Minji Vents Frustration Amid ADOR-HYBE Conflict: ‘Why Do We Need to Suffer?’