Hanni from NewJeans Shares How Their Controversy Hurt ILLIT and Reflects on Media Pressure in New Interview with BBC

In a recent interview with the BBC released on March 26, 2025, Hanni of NewJeans (now rebranded as NJZ) opened up about the group’s challenging year and how their ongoing controversy has affected another team, strongly hinting at ILLIT. The candid discussion shed light on the complexities of their situation, the media narratives surrounding it, and the broader tensions within the K-pop industry.

The Roots of the NewJeans and ILLIT Controversy

The controversy stems from a rift between ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE, ADOR’s parent company. It gained traction when allegations emerged that HYBE’s rookie girl group ILLIT had plagiarized concepts from NewJeans, sparking widespread online debate. These claims were fueled by earlier tensions, including assertions that HYBE prioritized the debut of LE SSERAFIM over NewJeans, allegedly breaking promises made to Min Hee-jin.

A key incident further escalated the situation: Hanni claimed she was ignored by ILLIT members at the HYBE building. This accusation became a focal point in a legal dispute between ADOR and NewJeans, where ADOR presented CCTV footage showing ILLIT members bowing to Hanni, suggesting they had greeted her. Private messages between Hanni and Min Hee-jin were also revealed, with ADOR arguing that Min had overstated the incident’s significance.

Hanni’s Candid Remarks on ILLIT’s Involvement

In the BBC interview, Hanni directly addressed how the controversy has impacted “another team,” widely understood to be ILLIT. She emphasized that NewJeans’ decisions over the past year were not made lightly but followed extensive discussions among the members. Hanni expressed unease about continually revisiting the issue, particularly due to its effect on others.

“We’re not entirely comfortable with constantly talking about this, knowing it could affect another team. It’s unnecessary to that team, and we don’t want that,” she said.

Despite her reluctance, Hanni explained that staying silent was not an option. She felt compelled to speak out to counter misleading narratives that could distort public perception.

“Even though we didn’t want to speak out, we felt like we had to. If we hadn’t, people would just believe everything they were hearing elsewhere,” she explained.

Her comments reflect a delicate balance: a desire to protect ILLIT from unintended fallout while addressing the need to clarify NewJeans’ perspective amid swirling rumors and media coverage.

Industry Tensions and NewJeans’ Current Status

The situation has rippled beyond NewJeans and ILLIT, exposing underlying tensions in the K-pop industry. Issues such as artist treatment, corporate disputes, and the pressure to maintain a flawless public image have come under scrutiny. Industry observers have cautioned that such conflicts could destabilize the K-pop ecosystem if they set a precedent for future disputes.

Meanwhile, NewJeans has taken significant steps in response to their situation. The group recently filed an objection to a court ruling favoring ADOR in an injunction case and announced a suspension of activities. Now operating as NJZ, their future remains uncertain, leaving fans and analysts awaiting further updates.

Also Read: Hanni Shares NJZ’s Plan to Find a New Agency for Better Communication Following Court Ruling Against Independent Activities in Ongoing Legal Fight with ADOR

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 Source: BBC

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