The parents of K-pop girl group NewJeans (also known as NJZ) have accused HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk of attempting to cancel the girl group’s upcoming headlining set at ComplexCon Hong Kong. ADOR has denied the claims.
- READ MORE: NewJeans vs HYBE: a comprehensive timeline of events
NewJeans’ parents made the accusation on February 19 through a statement on their Instagram page addressing several issues. Aside from the claim that Bang had attempted to “interfere” with the group’s ComplexCon Hong Kong appearance, they also addressed statements made by associations in South Korea regarding the NewJeans-HYBE feud.
“We heard from ComplexCon staff, who were helping us prepare for the performance, that HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk personally called organisers in the US and urged them to cancel NewJeans’ performance,” they claimed. “We felt that HYBE was thinking only of making money and interfering with the members, rather than cheering them on for the best. We also received reports that ADOR has tried to disrupt them in other instances.”
The group’s parents also directly addressed Bang, claiming that he had “not responded at all” to an email they sent him in April 2024. “If you have things to say, please call us instead of contacting others,” they alleged. “We don’t understand why the chairman of HYBE is directly involved in such a dispute. Do you believe you can still argue that he is not one with ADOR and HYBE?”
The statement confirmed that NewJeans will still perform at ComplexCon Hong Kong, adding that the members are preparing for their set with “joy and excitement at the thought of showing fans around the world a new side to them for the first time, away from the terrible HYBE and ADOR”.
ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE, has since responded to the allegation by NewJeans parents. “ADOR has never attempted to get NewJeans’ Hong Kong performance cancelled,” the label claimed, as translated by Soompi. “We have also confirmed that chairman Bang Si-hyuk has never contacted anyone at all about NewJeans’ Hong Kong performance.”
The company also reiterated their “previous request to domestic media” to continue using the “official” NewJeans name in their reporting. ADOR also made a public request for the ComplexCon organisers to “work with ADOR as they move forward with the performance” in accordance to the band’s contract with the label.
