Fans Outraged by Deleted CCTV Footage in NewJeans’ Hanni Greetings Controversy: “How Convenient”

The allegations of mistreatment against Hanni, a member of NewJeans, have ignited a growing controversy, provoking significant backlash from fans. On October 7, 2024, South Korean media outlet Ilgan Sports reported revelations made by the mothers of NewJeans’ members, who voiced serious concerns regarding the situation.

The mothers specifically criticized HYBE, claiming the deletion of crucial CCTV footage pertinent to the matter, which has led to uneasy suspicions of a cover-up. One mother expressed that they had requested a review of the CCTV footage months ago, only to later discover that the relevant videos had been erased.

The situation escalated when it was disclosed that the individual who deleted the footage had already left the company. This explanation failed to satisfy both fans and parents, who accused the company of evading accountability. An X user, @juantokki, commented:

“It was confirmed that a now ‘resigned’ employee had deleted the footage. Hmm… how convenient.”

“They automatically delete CCTV footage after 30 days… but they have cloud backup, right? They managed to recover MHJ’s private Katalk from last year, so they should easily restore the footage. It’s a crucial piece of evidence,” another user remarked.

“How malicious can they be?” a fan expressed.

“This feels like a shady cover-up straight out of a K-drama, and it seems like some government agencies are involved,” another commented.

“It’s infuriating because it wouldn’t cost HYBE anything to thoroughly investigate these incidents and hold the responsible parties accountable, yet they seem indifferent,” a fan noted.

Fans have also pointed out significant inconsistencies in HYBE’s statements, questioning how the company could have reviewed the CCTV footage after Hanni’s initial allegations if the recordings had been deleted.

“HYBE claimed they examined the footage after Hanni’s revelations and found nothing unusual, but if they delete recordings after 30 days, how could they have viewed this particular one? Once again, they’ve been caught in a lie,” a user pointed out.

“When will they put an end to this nonsense?” another user asked.

Updates on NewJeans, ADOR, and the ongoing issues with HYBE

This controversy began gaining traction during a live YouTube session with NewJeans members on September 11, where Hanni revealed the struggles she and her group have been facing within the company. The tensions primarily stemmed from ongoing disputes between HYBE and ADOR, the label that oversees NewJeans, following a fallout with ADOR’s former CEO, Min Hee-jin.

According to Ilgan Sports, the mothers of the NewJeans members reported that the label admitted to the absence of key CCTV footage, significantly undermining the credibility of the company’s investigation. They expressed their exasperation, questioning why only the footage of Hanni greeting other artists was available while the more controversial recordings had vanished.

The mothers also expressed disbelief at the inability of the security team to recover the footage, given the resources and size of the company. They discussed their relentless efforts to get answers from HYBE and ADOR but reported receiving unsatisfactory responses in their recent meetings.

One mother voiced her concern, stating that despite their repeated attempts to address these important issues, little progress had been made over the past few months, heightening their anxiety about their children’s welfare.

A representative from HYBE addressed these allegations, assuring that the company is engaged in a comprehensive investigation regarding the matter. Meanwhile, fans continue to await a resolution to this ongoing internal turmoil within the label.

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