Carmen, a member of SM Entertainment girl group Hearts2Hearts, recently surprised fans during a fan call when she was asked about NewJeans. Not only did she immediately sing a snippet of their hit song "OMG," but she also laughed and declared, "I love them so much!" This short interaction, lasting only a few seconds, quickly spread across social media, drawing particular attention because NewJeans is currently in a prolonged legal dispute with ADOR and a hiatus from activities.
Carmen Sings "OMG" When Asked About NewJeans During Fan Call
Carmen, who hails from Indonesia, is currently promoting Hearts2Hearts' second mini-album, "Lemon Tang," released last month. During the group's most recent fan call event, a fan mentioned NewJeans to her. She barely hesitated, immediately singing a short part of NewJeans' popular song "OMG," then laughed and said, "I love them so much!"
The X account About NewJeans later reposted this clip, writing: "Hearts2Hearts' Carmen sang 'OMG' during a recent fan call and said, 'I love them so much!'" This further amplified the interaction.
NewJeans' Activities Still Unclear Amid Ongoing Legal Disputes
The reason Carmen's statement sparked discussion is linked to NewJeans' current situation. NewJeans is currently on hiatus due to a prolonged legal dispute with ADOR. This conflict stems from the members' attempts to terminate their exclusive contracts following the controversy between HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. Since then, the related events have led to multiple court battles, several lawsuits are still ongoing, and the group's future activities remain uncertain.
Mixed Reactions from International K-pop Fans; Focus Shifts to SM vs. HYBE Differences
Many international K-pop fans were surprised by Carmen's public mention of NewJeans. A user on X, BLACKMAMBA, posted: "I'm surprised she was allowed to say this."
Others focused on the different atmospheres within companies regarding their artists' statements. heavydirtysoul wrote on X: "SM artists don't treat NewJeans like Voldemort of K-pop, unlike HYBE artists."
Another user, Tazzy, commented: "SM doesn't care about those controversies at all. Ironically, HYBE still keeps NewJeans under their label while trying hardest to block them."
User Niko❀ pointed out: "She's from SM, not HYBE. Completely different entities."
User Lee Na added that SM artists are free to express cross-company support, citing examples of friendly interactions between aejeans & aespa, LE SSERAFIM, NCT & SEVENTEEN, NCT & Stray Kids, RIIZE & BOYNEXTDOOR, and Red Velvet & BLACKPINK.
Although this interaction lasted only a few seconds, it became one of the most talked-about moments from Hearts2Hearts' recent fan calls. The original article also noted that fans praised Carmen for her candidness in expressing her favorite groups.
