This article is part of our coverage of HYBE vs. ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.
HYBE is accused of “media play” when it comes to the recent NewJeans‘ plagiarism accusations.
Recently, it was reported that English music label WISE MUSIC GROUP had filed a letter of claim alleging that NewJeans’ “Bubble Gum” had plagiarized Shakatak’s “Easier Said Than Done.” ADOR refuted the claims, but it gained a lot of attention among media outlets.
Yet, the reason HYBE and the feud has been brought up is because of plagiarism claims against Pledis Entertainment group TWS.
When TWS released their new track “Double Take,” fans of BIGBANG noticed that the melody and the video were similar to GD&TOP‘s “Knock Out” video and began comparing the videos side by side.
Uhm?? this is GD&TOP’s knock out? https://t.co/e05SfaVUlp pic.twitter.com/jQaePuZqad
— E1ONA~ (@Elowen19) July 15, 2024
Interesting… sounds … familiar… looks familiar… hmmmm…. 🤔 https://t.co/vfKDdIWJGu pic.twitter.com/U87smytzeq
— ♡ thatglitterhag ❤︎ (@thatglitterhag) July 15, 2024
Yet, after Korean media outlets picked up on the issue, netizens noticed that articles about it were deleted, and many believed that HYBE was quick to handle the situation.
TWS’ Alleged Plagiarism Article Gets Deleted From Korean News Site
Considering that NewJeans’ song was released over two months ago, netizens found it odd that the allegations were suddenly brought up within days of the TWS allegations. Although it is just fans’ speculations, many believe that HYBE could be behind the sudden appearance of the allegations in an attempt to cover the past controversies and shift the attention amid the two companies feuding.
I woke up to hybe using newjeans as a cover up for their own gross mistakes AGAIN. right at the performance announcement too…i‘m so sick of those abusive incels hybe‘s hatred for newjeans is getting so tiring
— ۟ (@nwjns1st) July 18, 2024
surprise surprise… HYBE is using NewJeans as their shield to cover up their new boy group TWS’ plagiarism allegations that went viral yesterday. HYBE immediatly had articles taken down of their controversy and THE VERY NEXT DAY they released an exclusive press release and then… pic.twitter.com/Q0XGWeHNq2
— nil 𝜗𝜚 (@newjiram) July 18, 2024
hybe is really just using newjeans to cover up their other groups issues LOL that gd & top plagiarism article gets deleted but newjeans suddenly have a news about plagiarism but it was an event that happened from a month ago 🙂😀
— 🌊 (@breadsaz) July 18, 2024
We already knew Hybe media play is coming but i guess no one can really be prepared for what that despicable company is going to do. They wanted MHJ out so bad and they are willing to do anything, even go low and use and drag NewJeans just to have their way. What’s funny is most…
— 1tokki (@juantokki) July 18, 2024
Funny timing isn’t it? Who revealed this? Hybe is using newjeans again to make people forget the outright plagiarism they committed for their boy group.
Also it’s crickets for the other plagiarism issues hybe has for all their other hitman bang produced groups https://t.co/3o2X2KseeB
— bernice | SUPERNATURAL (@soyamoyas) July 18, 2024
It is just fan speculations that HYBE was behind the allegations, but the discourse seems different as the TWS plagiarism claims came from netizens while the original artist sent concerns to ADOR for NewJeans.
You can read about the allegations below.
ADOR Demands Response After NewJeans’ “Bubble Gum” Is Formally Accused Of Plagiarism By English Label