Bang Si Hyuk Blocked NJZ (NewJeans) From MAMAs Win And GRAMMYs Nominations?— Allegations Go Viral Amid Min Hee Jin’s Trial

On December 18, KST, former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin appeared at the Seoul Central District Court for the hearing of her lawsuit against HYBE regarding the exercise of put options. After the trial, some individuals who claimed to be present in the courtroom claimed that Min had made some major allegations against HYBE and its founder, Bang Si Hyuk.

A couple of different fan accounts on X (former Twitter) made posts after the trial, claiming that Min Hee Jin had accused Bang of blocking NJZ (NewJeans) from getting an award at the MAMA Awards in 2022. According to the posts, Min said that NJZ attended the ceremony under the impression that they were going to win an award. But on the day of the event, the award was switched and given to Min Hee Jin herself (Breakout Producer Award). The former ADOR CEO was apparently told that the sudden switch happened due to Bang Si Hyuk’s direct intervention. She also claimed to have protested against this to then-HYBE CEO Park Ji Won.

Another set of viral posts claimed that HYBE also intentionally blocked NJZ from submitting for GRAMMYs consideration. According to these claims, when Min approached HYBE’s PR team to ask about the possibility of the group submitting for a nomination, she was blown off by them. Later, when she discovered through a Rolling Stone article that NJZ could have been a potential candidate for the “Best New Artist” category, she was left outraged.

English Translation:

Min Hee-jin:
(Do you think NewJeans could get nominated for a Grammy?)
→ asks HYBE’s PR team.

PR team:
If we’re not going to run a campaign, it’s better not to even try. It’s not an easy thing.

Min Hee-jin:
I see… but isn’t that kind of what the PR… https://t.co/Jfe2z4QAXI pic.twitter.com/bWWrcq6jqr

— 1tokki (@juantokki) December 18, 2025

These claims have sparked fierce backlash from NJZ fans who are now even more anxious about the group’s possible future under HYBE’s management.

NEWJEANS COULD'VE BEEN A GRAMMY NOMINATED ROOKIE AND THEY HAD TO RUIN IT free my girls tf https://t.co/QSKGu2E4Ek pic.twitter.com/YbWPdF5VLE

— cookie (@cookieggom) December 18, 2025

im so sad about the grammys thing like my heart breaks for newjeans im so mad

— Ი𐑼 (@hyeiccino) December 18, 2025

NewJeans was originally meant to win a MAMA Award in 2022, but it was changed to a “Producer” award instead, which Min Hee-jin received. She said she personally heard the change was requested by Bang Si-hyuk so the group wouldn’t win ?!!!! fukass pic.twitter.com/X3TUj4trFR

— ໑ Soft Pink Nostalgia (@wathicn) December 18, 2025

2022 MAMA award… Grammy submissions… all blocked by Bang Si-hyuk.

Remember the reports that he even tried to stop NewJeans from performing at ComplexCon HK?

Seriously, what else has this guy tried to block for NewJeans that Bunnies and the public doesn't know? pic.twitter.com/XcevhQprl5

— 1tokki (@juantokki) December 18, 2025

However, it is important to note that none of these claims has been substantiated by any official court document. HYBE has not addressed these allegations either.