K-Pop Feud Heats Up: ILLIT and NewJeans' Hanni Clash

Belift Lab recently faced a whirlwind of controversy, sparked by allegations that the manager of ILLIT displayed a serious lack of respect towards NewJeans’ very own Hanni. On October 7, they responded to a report where the parents of NewJeans members accused HYBE of harassment and an ensuing cover-up. This isn't the kind of plot twist you see just in dramas, folks; it’s more like a behind-the-scenes drama that could rival the worst episodes of reality television.

In their statement, Belift Lab opened the floodgates: “Hello, this is Belift Lab.” (Because when you're under fire, a warm greeting makes everything better, right?) They made a heartening case against what they termed “ridiculous plagiarism accusations,” emphasizing that no evidence exists to support these claims. They chimed in with a firm assertion: ILLIT’s manager, Koo Sung Won, has never instructed his crew to ignore the NewJeans members. You could practically hear the sound of disbelief echoing across the K-Pop landscape.

“It’s all very simple,” they continued, “after a thorough investigation on June 13 (because who doesn’t love a good investigation?), it was revealed that the two groups were only within the same vicinity for a mere five minutes on May 27. And just to seal the deal, there's footage of the ILLIT members bowing to Hanni at a staggering 90 degrees. If that's not respect, I don’t know what is.” Ah, the irony, where even a bow becomes a dramatic turning point.

Now, let’s talk about that infamous greeting—or, as some allege, the lack thereof. After reviewing footage with the former CEO Min Hee Jin’s team, it was claimed that the “no greeting” incident happened afterwards, like a scene cut from a delightful rom-com. But here’s the kicker: the security team pointed out that the video retention period had expired. Talk about the ultimate cliffhanger! The former CEO alleged that HYBE might have played a sneaky card and deleted the video. If there were awards for drama, we might have a contender!

As for the interactions of the protocol staff, Belift Lab insisted that their employees always used respectful titles when addressing artists. Let’s be honest; calling someone “ignore” doesn’t exactly scream courtesy. They emphasized that the CCTV footage was mute, which makes the whole story sound like a poorly dubbed foreign film.

Now, while Belift Lab took a noble stand against unnecessary tensions, they weren't shy about hinting that ulterior motives might be lurking in the shadows of these allegations, especially since the matter hit the public arena during a national assembly audit. It’s as if someone decided that this drama deserved a wider audience—because why not? Let’s just make it a prime-time event!

To protect their team, especially the protocol staff, who find themselves in a precarious spot compared to glittering stars, Belift Lab had preferred to stay quiet, which shows a commendable restraint. But here’s the punchline: a situation that should stay under the radar of label collaborations has now snowballed into something that could give Hitchcock a run for his money. Those poor staff members are metaphorically trapped in a tale that should remain in the realm of cordiality.

Following the incident, Belift Lab has sent two official responses to ADOR, but it seems like they were met with the sounds of crickets chirping. Meanwhile, a NewJeans member mentioned the matter during a live event—a classic case of “oops, did I just say that?”—which prompted a request for an apology that remains unanswered, much to everyone’s bewilderment.

As they wrapped up their statement, Belift Lab made it abundantly clear: if these allegations continue to tarnish their name, they won’t hesitate to explore all avenues to defend their honor. Now, isn’t that just the cherry on top of this deeply interwoven cake of K-Pop politics?

As if this situation weren't juicy enough, let’s not forget that Belift Lab’s alleged plagiarism issues are already well-documented, creating an intricate web of scandal that’s almost too entertaining to be true. Could this complex saga hold all the elements of classic Ephron storytelling? Absolutely. We’ve got drama, comedy, and a touch of the ridiculous. Welcome to the fabulous world of K-Pop intrigue!