While ILLIT is hounded by rumors that they copied NewJeans, another controversy wrapped them after Bunnies uncovered Belift Lab's previous report proving that the members were rigged during the "R U Next?" broadcast.
In April, former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin raised allegations that Belift Lab's ILLIT is a copycat of her team, NewJeans, and for the past 6 months, the labels were both fighting against each other to prove and defend their sides.
On Nov. 12th then, Team Bunnies, supporters of NewJeans, released crucial information that didn't only expose Belift Lab's lies but sparks another issue of ILLIT being rigged.
안녕하세요, 팀 버니즈입니다.
— 팀 버니즈 (@NewJeansSTRM) November 12, 2024
11월 11일자 보도된 한겨레의 빌리프랩 뉴진스 기획안 표절 관련 단독 기사를 확인했습니다.
저희는 제보자를 통해 국정감사 이전에 빌리프랩 모 아티스트의 기획안과 구 어도어 뉴진스 기획안 비교 자료를 입수했으나, 감사 과정이 공정하게 진행되기를 바라며… pic.twitter.com/SA2MmwkpoL
In an internal document retrieved, Belift Lab stated through Korean media on Oct. 11th that ILLIT's strategy and concepts were already finalized on July 21, 2023. If this is true, this will prove that they didn't copy NewJeans leaked "concept plan" dated August 28, 2023.
However, Bunnies questioned this detail, since a completed concept plan should include finalized members, profile images, average age, and more. Looking at this it would be impossible to submit a final plan since JTBC's "R U Next?," the program to which ILLIT was created only aired its finale on Sept. 1st.
What is more suspicious about this is that the collage photo used to announce the final 6 members was initially thought to be randomly created by the Korean press, but, shockingly, it was an official press photo shared by Belift Lab.
BELIFT/ILLIT proposal plan.
— ☘︎ (@nwjnsbts) November 12, 2024
Kim Taeho and BELIFT REFUTED that the plan was made on October 11, which ultimately means the lineup concept was already decided down to the ethnicity of the members as well as avg age back in July 21, and thus the show was RIGGED 🤔 https://t.co/y58L26vAcK pic.twitter.com/v59mh24Iab
READ ALSO: ILLIT Minju Criticized For Inviting TWICE Sana In Her Show: 'Don't Meddle With Them'
Seeing this, K-pop stans only have two guesses about what really happened; first, Belift Lab lied about completing the proposal in July, or second, the members' selection from the show was manipulated even before its final episode.
Here are netizens' reactions:
- "So would you rather be a rigged group or a copycat group?"
- "Just either admit that you plagiarized or fabricated the proposal. Or... maybe HYBE did both?"
- "Wow, Belift Lab is shameless. How can they sue Min Hee Jin after doing something like this?"
- "Please just disband ILLIT."
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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
