ADOR publicly denounces HYBE auditors for harassing and threatening its employees

The working relationship between ADOR, the label behind the girl group NewJeans, and its parent company HYBE seems to be strained. On May 10th, ADOR released a strong statement accusing HYBE’s internal auditors of mistreating and harassing their employees.

Late-Night Interrogation Sparks Controversy

The incident reportedly began on May 9th, after business hours. According to ADOR’s statement, HYBE’s auditing team singled out a team leader in their style directing department for an interrogation. This questioning lasted for over five hours, extending past midnight. The situation reportedly escalated further when the auditors followed the employee home to seize their laptop and phone, venturing into personal matters unrelated to work.

Questionable Tactics and Accusations of Embezzlement

ADOR alleges that the auditors employed aggressive tactics during the interrogation. The statement claims the employee was pressured with threats of legal action if they didn’t cooperate. Additionally, the auditors reportedly took issue with a contract between ADOR and the style director, accusing it of containing evidence of embezzlement.

However, ADOR maintains the contract followed industry standards and was already shared with HYBE’s HR and ER departments earlier this year. The statement clarifies that the contract involved payments made directly to the employee by an advertiser for their styling work on a NewJeans photoshoot.

Changes in Outsourcing Practices at the Center of Dispute

ADOR explains that it typically relies on freelance stylists for advertisement shoots. However, for NewJeans’ projects, they opted to use in-house stylists, including the targeted employee. This decision reportedly aimed to maintain consistency in the group’s image and allow for greater flexibility during shoots. In such cases, ADOR claims the stylists received payments directly from the advertiser, with additional internal compensation based on performance goals achieved.

A shift in practices occurred in 2024, with ADOR returning to using external stylists for advertisements. This change was communicated to HYBE’s HR and ER departments in February. ADOR suggests that the crux of the dispute lies with the payment the employee received directly from the advertiser, which HYBE seems to be misconstruing as evidence of wrongdoing.

Potential Lawsuit and Damaged Relationships

The intense interrogation has reportedly left the targeted employee considering legal action against HYBE for pressuring them to access private information and resorting to threats. This incident undeniably casts a shadow on the relationship between ADOR and HYBE. While the situation remains unresolved, it raises concerns about transparency and respectful treatment of employees within the larger entertainment company.