KBS just learned the hard way not to mess with NewJeans fans! After dropping a video about the group’s contract battle with ADOR, the network used a spicy YouTube thumbnail that suggested Haerin was escaping the group. And the reaction? Fans were not having it, especially since facts didn’t back the clickbait style and phrasing. The network used “Haerin’s Escape?” stirring up rumors that only made the group’s legal feud worse in the media.
As a response, Bunnies (that’s the NewJeans fandom) filed a petition in April, demanding KBS stop the “malicious reporting” and issue a formal apology. The thumbnail was slammed for feeding drama over verified info, especially since KBS leaned on sketchy YouTube sources while ignoring international interviews. Things got all the more serious since NewJeans’ Haerin is a minor, and her image was being used.
KBS initially played the silent game by just changing the thumbnail. But after the heat wouldn’t die down, they finally issued a public apology on May 1. They admitted the wording was “inappropriate” and made the video private. Fans now hope the media gives NewJeans the respect they deserve—that means no more rumors and no more unverified info.