It feels like NewJeans may never be five again. Fans of the girl group, originally made up of Haein, Hyerin, Danielle, Minji, and Hanni, were recently overjoyed when their agency, ADOR, a HYBE subsidiary, announced that its dispute with the members reached a statement, with all five members slated to return. That optimism, however, was short-lived.

ADOR has now decided to terminate its contract with Danielle, once again throwing the group’s future into uncertainty. The agency is also suing the former NewJeans member. The news has sent K-pop social media into a frenzy, with fans questioning what lies ahead for Hanni, Haein, Hyerin, and Minji, and whether NewJeans can truly move forward after yet another setback.

Why did ADOR decide to terminate Danielle’s contract?

ADOR released a detailed statement explaining its decision to terminate Danielle’s contract, placing significant responsibility on her family and former CEO Min Hee Jin. The agency said it would “take legal measures against members of Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee Jin, who hold grave responsibility not only in our conflict with NewJeans but also in the members’ delayed return to the agency.”

Danielle removed from NewJeans, ADOR announces | Credit: X/@AniEMPIRE

ADOR further claimed that it had discovered the members were “fed continuous and twisted information about the company over an extended period of time,” which it described as the core reason the conflict escalated. Despite this, the label said it had initially hoped to resolve misunderstandings, adding, “We agreed that we would need to take the chance to sort out all misunderstandings, even if it takes a long time, in order to fully restore the love from the fans and the public.” ADOR also announced that it plans to explain the full details of the dispute at a separate event, with the date and format to be revealed later.

The agency also announced that Hanni has returned, while Minji is still in negotiation. Notably, ADOR had already announced Hyein and Haerin’s return following the Seoul court’s ruling in October.

NewJeans fans in disbelief following Danielle’s contract termination

NewJeans fans, officially known as Tokkis, have been spiralling online following ADOR’s statement, with many expressing shock, anger, and uncertainty over the group’s future.

One fan wrote, ” I know this is just Twitter, and it’s never that deep, but I’m actually crying about Danielle. I know I don’t know her, and she doesn’t know me, but her energy in NewJeans is just so crucial, like every other member. I really love her so much. So I’m sorry if I get in my feelings about her.” Some fans have also slammed HYBE for “separating a family,” highlighting the close-knit bond the girls shared.

More about NewJeans and ADOR’s legal battle

The legal battle between NewJeans and their label ADOR began in November 2024, when all five members publicly declared that they were terminating their exclusive contracts with the company, citing a breakdown of trust and mismanagement after the departure of former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and alleged mistreatment. They even began independent activities under the name “NJZ”, signalling their intent to leave the label altogether. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit seeking a court ruling to confirm that the exclusive contracts remained valid and obtained an injunction to block the group from pursuing activities outside the agency without consent.

Court sided with ADOR in NewJeans contract dispute. | Credit: X|@NewJeans_ADOR

On October 30, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court sided with ADOR, ruling that the contracts were legally binding and that the company retained exclusive management rights over the group, effectively forcing the members to halt independent promotions and appear under ADOR’s authority again.

All five members’ announced their return

Following the court decision, the reconciliation process began with Haerin and Hyein—they were the first two members to publicly announce their return to ADOR, stating they would “respect the court’s latest ruling” and continue under their exclusive contracts after discussions with the label and their families. Shortly afterward, Hanni, Minji, and Danielle also issued a statement saying they intended to return to ADOR “after careful consideration,” though they noted delays in communication because one member was overseas.

With Danielle’s contract termination, it remains unclear whether NewJeans will continue as a four-member group or if ADOR plans to introduce a new member.