NewJeans comeback thrown into chaos after Ador cuts ties with Danielle

NewJeans’ hopes of a full-group comeback have been thrown into doubt after Ador announced it had terminated its exclusive contract with member Danielle.

In an official statement released on Monday, Ador addressed the status of discussions with Danielle, Minji and Hanni following a ruling by the Seoul Central District Court on October 30, which ordered all five members to honour their exclusive contracts with the agency through 2029.

According to Ador, multiple discussions were held with Minji, Hanni, Danielle and their families after the court decision. The company said Hanni, along with her family, travelled to South Korea for talks and ultimately decided to remain with the label in line with the ruling.

The agency added that discussions with Minji are continuing, though it did not confirm whether she has reached a final decision regarding her future.

A different outcome was reached in Danielle’s case.

Ador said it concluded that continuing with Danielle as both a NewJeans member and an Ador artist would be difficult and confirmed that she had been formally notified of the termination of her exclusive contract.

The company also said it plans to pursue legal action against Danielle’s family and former Ador chief executive Min Hee-jin, alleging their involvement in escalating the dispute that disrupted the group’s activities and contributed to attempts to leave the agency.

Ador claimed that discussions with the members revealed they had been exposed over time to what it described as distorted and biased information, leading to misunderstandings about the company and deepening the conflict.

The label said rebuilding trust with fans and the public would take time and would require a clear presentation of facts. It added that it is currently discussing when and how to publicly address the controversies that emerged during the dispute.

The development follows Ador’s announcement on November 12 that Haerin and Hyein had returned to the agency, while Minji, Hanni and Danielle had expressed an intention to return later that day through their legal representative.

With Hanni now confirmed to be resuming activities and Haerin and Hyein already back under the label, Ador said three members are preparing to return to promotions. However, Danielle’s removal and Minji’s unresolved status mean a full-group reunion appears unlikely for now.

NewJeans debuted as a five-member group and built its identity around a fixed lineup, making any permanent change a significant shift for both the group’s brand and its fan base.

Ador concluded its statement by pledging to do its best to resolve the situation smoothly and ensure NewJeans can return to fans as soon as possible.

Aasiya Nazir