YG Entertainment “Shades” HYBE Using BLACKPINK’s New Album, Sparking Hot Reactions
Recently, BLACKPINK released their latest album, DEADLINE.
This album is the group’s first in several years, and has been met with mixed reactions from netizens. Still, the release has already broken records with an outstanding number of albums sold during the first day of sales.
While the attention is on BLACKPINK’s release, some believe the group has been used to “shade” a revelation about HYBE.
As the case between Min Hee Jin and HYBE continues, netizens have learned more about the company’s business practices.
On February 26, court documents from the HYBE vs. Min Heejin case revealed that Min Hee Jin refused HYBE’s proposal to engage in sajaegi and confirmed that other HYBE groups had previously benefited from the practice. Sajaegi, or album sales manipulation, reportedly involved purchasing artists’ albums in advance to inflate sales figures, then returning unsold stock.
These sorts of allegations have been leveled against HYBE before.
HYBE Allegedly Accidentally Admits To Sajaegi For Album Sales
On the release dated of BLACKPINK’s Deadline, a K-Pop distributor, Ktown4u, shared the arrival of their stock of the album.
Shortly after, a clip showing the packing of individual orders for shipment was shared on the account.
These clips were reposted on X, where fans reacted.
Many saw this as YG Entertainment indirectly “shading” HYBE, as no other album release recently has similar documentation.
love how YG is showing that BLACKPINK album sale numbers are 100% real, organic, and are being shipped to real fans, they don’t fake sales! pic.twitter.com/NXmxq1jIGa
— َ (@pinksview) February 27, 2026
YG is so evil sjnskjs. They started showing off the Blackpink album shipping and sales are organic since THE ALBUM era. https://t.co/CSIWtHpg0O
— RED (@_bitchgtfo) February 27, 2026
Kpop stans keep accusing BLACKPINK album sales are fake because it's selling millions like BGs so YG have to show off every comeback that it's REAL, ORGANIC, and GET SHIPPED. YG you're nasty and obviously shading other companies lmfao🫵 pic.twitter.com/1Wiatv0YFm
— RED (@_bitchgtfo) February 27, 2026
