HYBE Allegedly Restricts NewJeans' "How Sweet" MV In 14 Different Countries

This article is part of our coverage of HYBE vs. ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.

HYBE responded to allegations that it had age-restricted NewJeans’ “How Sweet” music video.

On May 27, HYBE responded to claims that it had age-restricted NewJeans’ latest “How Sweet” music video. Earlier, HYBE was accused of placing age and country restrictions on NewJeans’ “How Sweet” music video.

“NewJeans need to leave HYBE… HYBE put restrictions for the group’s single in 14 countries and put age restrictions so that the video couldn’t get many views, lol.”
“I really hate Bang Si Hyuk, ㅠㅠ. I hope NewJeans and Min Hee Jin are together forever.”
“Now they are beyond not promoting them, they are actually sabotaging them. It is chilling. Please get your act together. What does this change, HYBE?”
“HYBE is resorting to tactics this low to stop NewJeans. I think Bang Si Hyuk is the greatest threat to K-Pop.”
“Wow, lol. At this point, let’s look for a loophole in the contract and escape. Isn’t this betrayal? They are literally trying to bury a group that is doing so well on their own. Also, &TEAM was accused of coping EXO. This is a company that has no original creations.”
“Did the comments really go from 4.5K to 4.2K? Why did they delete the best comments when they didn’t pose any problems?”

On this day, HYBE stated to Ilgan Sports that they were not behind the restriction.

HYBE does not put an age restriction when uploading music videos. YouTube makes that distinction on its own.

— HYBE

HYBE then further stated that it would investigate and ask YouTube to explain the restriction.

We will ask YouTube for an explanation of whether the video was restricted and for what reason.

— HYBE

What are your thoughts? As of this writing, the song has only amassed 7 million views in 3 days. You can watch NewJeans’ “How Sweet” music video in the link below.