HYBE House Divided: Are NewJeans Stealing Le Sserafim's Thunder?

HYBE Fandoms at War: Le Sserafim Fans Demand Separation from NewJeans

HYBE House Divided: Are NewJeans Stealing Le Ssera...

Tensions are boiling over within the HYBE Corporation fandom ecosystem, as Le Sserafim fans have launched a truck protest demanding a complete separation from NewJeans. The protest, staged outside HYBE's Yongsan headquarters, underscores the deep-seated resentment stemming from a year-long legal battle and perceived unfair treatment. The core issue revolves around the narrative that Le Sserafim has unfairly borne the brunt of negativity stemming from disputes between HYBE and NewJeans' agency, Ador.

The brightly lit LED trucks carried pointed messages directed at HYBE, accusing the company of failing to protect Le Sserafim from online hate and demanding legal action against "attacking fandoms." The protest highlights the fans' belief that Le Sserafim has been unfairly vilified in the wake of the HYBE-Ador conflict, despite having no direct involvement.

The Roots of the Conflict: A Battle for Narrative

The conflict's origins lie in the high-profile legal and management battle between HYBE and Ador, led by former CEO Min Hee-jin. During this period, Min and NewJeans alleged that HYBE prioritized other groups, specifically Le Sserafim, at NewJeans' expense. A key point of contention was the claim that HYBE debuted Le Sserafim before NewJeans, despite Ador's objections. This sparked a widespread online debate, unfairly casting Le Sserafim as the beneficiary of alleged corporate favoritism. The resulting online narrative painted NewJeans as the victim and Le Sserafim as, unfairly, the antagonist. This negative framing has led to a barrage of hate comments and mockery directed at Le Sserafim, fueling the current outrage.

NewJeans' Return Rekindles the Flame

The recent announcement of NewJeans' return to Ador, under the HYBE umbrella, has reignited the anger among Le Sserafim fans. They fear that the continued co-existence of the two groups within the same corporate structure will only expose Le Sserafim to further hostility and unfair comparisons. This concern is the driving force behind the demand for a clear separation, aimed at shielding their favorite group from further negativity. The protest signals a breaking point for Le Sserafim fans, who feel their group has been unjustly caught in the crossfire of a larger corporate dispute.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that ILLIT fans have also expressed similar frustrations, adding another layer to the already complex web of fandom rivalries within HYBE. The accusation that ILLIT copied NewJeans' concept, a claim made during the Ador-HYBE dispute, has further strained relationships between the fandoms, highlighting the challenges HYBE faces in managing multiple groups and their respective fanbases.