A young female manager at ILLIT, born in 2001, has reportedly resigned following the now-infamous “greeting incident” involving NewJeans member Hanni, and is currently undergoing psychological treatment due to the emotional fallout. The revelation has ignited a firestorm across online communities, with many netizens rushing to defend the young staff member and criticize the broader impact of idol-related disputes on ordinary workers.
According to community sources and C-netizen discussions, the manager, likely in her first job after graduation, was caught in the crossfire when Hanni went public with her discomfort over how she was allegedly treated by ILLIT’s team. What began as a claim of workplace mistreatment spiraled into a national scandal, contributing to mounting tensions between HYBE sub-labels and their respective artists.
Online, Chinese netizens have rallied behind the manager, emphasizing her youth and vulnerable position:
- “Born in 2001… this was probably her first job. And now she’s being blamed and dragged into legal messes. It’s disgusting.”
- “She’s just a low-level employee. Now her whole life is impacted.”
- “How’s she supposed to find another job after this? Her name’s tied to lawsuits.”
Others have sharply criticized the perceived double standards between idols and ordinary workers:
- “Idols earning billions get sympathy and the ‘worker’ label, while real workers are left to rot.”
- “Why is this poor girl’s life ruined while the rich and famous keep getting support?”
- “This is hell. That manager is probably worried about her next meal, while NJZ is preparing for their next stage and soaking up fan love.”
Photos of NJZ rehearsing for upcoming stages have only added to the public’s frustration, with commenters expressing a growing resentment toward celebrity “victim narratives” that overshadow the struggles of everyday staff:
- “Stop romanticizing celebrities. The real victims are people like this manager—young, powerless, and forgotten.”
- “The girl is just 24. She didn’t sign up for this.”
- “How many more innocent lives have to be hurt because of this drama?”
While the full details remain unclear, and no formal statements have been made by HYBE or ADOR regarding the manager’s resignation, public opinion is sharply turning. Many now demand accountability, not just from companies, but from idols whose actions may unintentionally cause harm to non-celebrity staff.
As tensions within HYBE continue to simmer, the collateral damage is becoming harder to ignore. For many, this incident serves as a stark reminder: behind every idol scandal are real people without fame, wealth, or a platform to defend themselves.
