NewJeans’ Minji “Censored” in Haerin’s Social Media Update, Fueling Conflict Speculations

On January 8, NewJeans member Haerin shared a series of nostalgic images on the Instagram account “jeanzforfree,” which is managed by the group. Accompanying her post, she wrote, “A little year-end look back. Next time, I will post some landscape photos,” hinting at her intention to showcase different content in the future.

Haerin’s posts predominantly featured herself, but one image stood out—a Polaroid featuring all members of NewJeans. In a surprising twist, the face of fellow member Minji was obscured with what appeared to be a black marker, while the other members’ faces remained untouched.

The bold editing choice did not go unnoticed, sparking a wave of criticism and speculation among netizens regarding potential discord within the group. Some observers suggested that this act might signify a rift, while others rushed to Haerin’s defense, proposing that her actions were more reflective of playful camaraderie; they pointed out that she may have been retaliating against Minji for a previous incident where Minji placed a sticker over Haerin’s face in a photo.

Below is a selection of reactions from the online community:

“This post seems like an invitation for criticism. What is its significance?”
“It’s quite inappropriate to alter a group photo like this, especially when Minji isn’t doing anything out of the ordinary.”
“Is this a move by HYBE to undermine NewJeans once more?”
“There are countless other images with all five members. Why conclude the year with something like this?”
“The speculation about conflict is absurd. Haerin is just getting back at Minji. They’re clearly good friends.”

Source & Images