How MrBeast Accidentally Entered One of K-Pop’s Biggest Controversies Involving NewJeans and HYBE
- Disha Paul
- 19 minutes ago
- 3 min read
In early January 2026, something strangely hilarious yet also quite serious erupted online. It involved one of the biggest K-pop acts in the world, one of the most famous YouTubers on the planet, and a fandom that took fan activism to a completely new level.
The Real Drama: NewJeans and Danielle’s Contract Crisis
Since their 2022 debut, NewJeans has become one of the biggest K-pop girl groups globally. But late 2025 brought a major shock. Their label, ADOR, which is under the HYBE umbrella, officially terminated member Danielle Marsh’s contract and filed a damages lawsuit reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars.
This came after a long and complicated contract dispute between NewJeans and ADOR that had been unfolding since 2024. The situation sparked huge public discussion about fairness, pressure, and the business side of K-pop.
A 2025 court ruling had already stated that NewJeans must honor their contracts through 2029. While some members reportedly returned to ADOR, Danielle’s contract termination became one of the most dramatic turning points, leaving her facing legal battles of her own.
For fans, known as "Bunnies" or "Tokkies", this was devastating. To many, NewJeans is a five-member group. Danielle’s removal felt personal and heartbreaking.
How a Meme Turned Into a Movement
What pushed this situation from serious entertainment news into viral global chaos was the way the fandom responded.
NewJeans fans began flooding MrBeast’s social media accounts with requests like:
“Please buy HYBE and save NewJeans.”
“Bring Danielle back.”
“MrBeast, help NewJeans.”
Thousands of comments poured in across Instagram, TikTok, and X. Hashtags trended worldwide. What started as a lighthearted meme quickly became a fan campaign that the whole internet noticed.
Fans chose MrBeast because he is wealthy, influential, and known for dramatic, philanthropy-driven actions. In other words, he felt like the kind of person who might actually do something extreme.
MrBeast Responds, and the Internet Goes Wild
The situation became even more surreal when MrBeast actually responded. On January 6, 2026, he tweeted:
“What do I need to do?”— MrBeast (@MrBeast)
Then, on a livestream with fellow creator JasonTheWeen, he said he was honestly trying to understand the situation:
“Are they for sale?”
“Is it a raising awareness thing?”
“I keep getting asked to help but I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do.”
The comments quickly went viral, but not everyone was impressed. Many Korean netizens called it embarrassing or cringe-worthy, saying fans had dragged an unrelated Western celebrity into a complex K-pop legal battle
His reaction went viral instantly. However, not everyone found it funny. Many Korean netizens criticized the situation, saying it was embarrassing for fans to drag an unrelated American YouTuber into a complex entertainment industry legal conflict.
Could MrBeast Realistically Save NewJeans?
Short answer: No.
Here is why.
First, you cannot simply “buy” a K-pop group. Groups are not independent companies. They are under exclusive contracts with agencies. Even buying the management company would not automatically change contract terms or restore terminated agreements.
Second, HYBE is a multibillion-dollar entertainment conglomerate. Even a very wealthy YouTuber would realistically struggle to acquire it, and buying a publicly traded company involves complex legal and financial processes far beyond making a single transaction.
Third, the only real impact here is awareness. Fans successfully turned a corporate contract dispute into a global social conversation. People who had never heard of NewJeans are suddenly googling the situation because of MrBeast’s involvement.
And that alone shows the power of fandom.
What This Saga Reveals About Internet Culture
This entire situation highlights the way modern fandom, social media, and meme culture now blend. Fans today are organized, loud, global, and deeply invested. They are not just discussing music but actively trying to influence what happens to the artists they love.
It also shows how serious issues can collide with humor and viral energy online. A legal contract dispute became a worldwide meme, and yet beneath the jokes is a very real concern about artist treatment and the pressures of the entertainment system.
Final Thoughts
On the surface, NewJeans fans asking MrBeast to buy HYBE sounds like a bizarre internet joke. And in many ways, it is. But behind the viral comments lies a passionate fandom trying to protect a group they care about.
Whether this saga ends through negotiations, court rulings, or new developments, one thing is clear.
The future of NewJeans is being closely watched by fans worldwide, and this story is far from over.
Was involving MrBeast a clever way to gain global attention, or did it cross a line in a serious industry dispute? What do you think?