Recently, a video posted on Twitter has gone viral, showing ILLIT’s manager allegedly pushing past member Minju at an airport.
The OP captioned it, claiming that the manager’s actions were aggressive and that this type of behavior has happened before with BELIFT LAB staff when idols wave to fans.
https://t.co/9IUmYMznJd past actions of the Belift staff
— Lia ✮ (@Liashyz) January 21, 2025
The post further alleged that the same manager was responsible for workplace bullying incidents involving NewJeans’ Hanni.
NewJeans’ Hanni during their livestream:
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) September 11, 2024
— “On the 4th floor of the HYBE building there’s a room to get hair/make up done. One day, a group and their manager passed by and we greeted each other. They came back again and I heard their manager say “ignore her”.” pic.twitter.com/spjewiww84
The OP also accused ILLIT’s fanbase, of deleting the video from other platforms to protect the manager and prevent further discussions.
Following the video’s viral spread, discussions erupted within the K-pop community. Critics condemned ILLIT fans for defending the manager instead of advocating for the idols’ fair treatment. Comments on the viral post expressed concerns, with some fans stating:
what kind of fans hide a video of their artist instead of trending tags asking for a fair treatment? is it bc that doesn't fit your narrative of belift being a saint and makes you look bad? pathetic. i lowkey feel bad for those girls, can't rely on their company nor their fans https://t.co/f561KqPRtN
— clau (@smiskimina) January 21, 2025
However, ILLIT fans have come forward to provide their side of the story. They claim that the video was edited and taken out of context by NewJeans fans to push a false narrative.
According to illit fans , the manager did not push Minju intentionally but was simply navigating a tight space between two security guards. They argue that the manager lost balance momentarily, which caused the slight push, and emphasize that Minju was seen laughing afterward.
In response to the accusations, ILLIT fans shared an unblurred version of the video that they claim proves the innocence of the manager.
They argue that the staff member has a friendly relationship with the members and should not be targeted based on an edited clip. Statements from ILLIT supporters include:
As the debate continues, opinions remain divided, with some fans calling for accountability from BELIFT LAB, while others defend the manager’s actions as being blown out of proportion.