On Feb 24th, Danielle shared multiple photos on NewJeans‘ social media account along with the caption, “Meanwhile in…”
The released images show Danielle enjoying a leisurely swim in a pool at an exotic resort, wearing a black bikini and a hat. Her carefree and radiant vacation vibe immediately caught attention.
Meanwhile, the conflict between NewJeans and HYBE traces back to November last year, stemming from a management dispute between former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE headquarters. HYBE initiated an audit, accusing Min Hee-jin of attempting to make ADOR independent, to which she strongly opposed, stating it was a decision made to “protect NewJeans”. This led to a full-scale conflict when the NewJeans members declared the termination of their contracts with ADOR.
On November 28, 2024, NewJeans held an emergency press conference, announcing, “We are terminating our exclusive contracts with ADOR.” The group asserted, “HYBE and ADOR are at fault, and we have no reason to pay any penalties.” In response, ADOR immediately refuted their claims and filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the contracts, officially launching a legal battle.
Since then, NewJeans members have pursued individual activities while exploring ways to continue group promotions. However, the ongoing legal dispute with HYBE has created uncertainties regarding their future, including music distribution and scheduling conflicts. Fans remain divided over the ongoing tensions between the agency and the group, fueling growing concerns about NewJeans’ future.
Notably, on Feb 19th, NewJeans’ parents took to social media, claiming, “We recently heard from ComplexCon officials who helped prepare for the group’s performance that HYBE’s chairman Bang Si-hyuk personally called U.S. officials, urging them to cancel NJZ’s performance.” They further questioned, “Why is HYBE’s chairman personally interfering in a dispute between ADOR and NewJeans?”
In response, ADOR denied the accusations, stating, “ADOR never pressured anyone to cancel NewJeans’ Hong Kong performance. We also confirm that Chairman Bang Si-hyuk has never made any calls regarding NewJeans’ Hong Kong performance.”