On December 29, 2025, ADOR announced the termination of Danielle's exclusive contract with the K-pop group NewJeans amid ongoing legal disputes. While Hanni has agreed to stay and Minji remains in talks, the label plans to pursue legal action against Danielle's family member and former CEO Min Hee-jin. This development follows a court ruling enforcing the group's contract through 2029.
The announcement from ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE, came on Monday, December 29, 2025, updating the status of NewJeans' lineup after a prolonged legal battle. The label stated that it had determined it would be difficult for Danielle to continue as a member and artist, notifying her of the contract termination that day. "Having determined that it would be difficult for her to continue as a NewJeans member and ADOR artist, the company notified her today of the termination of her exclusive contract," the statement read.
ADOR also intends to hold accountable one member of Danielle's family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, whom it blames for causing the dispute and delays in the group's activities. Tensions escalated in 2024 when NewJeans members sought to end their ties with ADOR, citing the firing of Min Hee-jin, their mentor, as a contract breach. A South Korean court ruled in June 2025 that the group must honor its seven-year exclusive contract through 2029, siding with ADOR. In October, ADOR celebrated the victory, hoping it would prompt reflection from the artists.
Earlier, Haerin and Hyein decided to continue with ADOR after family discussions. Hanni, after visiting Korea with her family for in-depth talks, agreed to stay, respecting the court's decision. "Hanni visited Korea with her family and held in-depth, extended conversations with ADOR... At the conclusion of these sincere discussions, Hanni decided to stay with ADOR, respecting the court’s ruling," the label noted. Minji is still in ongoing conversations about her future.
NewJeans debuted in 2022 and gained global fame in 2023 with their EP 'Get Up,' which topped the Billboard 200. In 2025, amid the dispute, the members released music independently as NJZ but were fined $734,000 each in June for unauthorized activities following ADOR's injunction. ADOR aims to resolve misunderstandings, stating the members had been exposed to distorted information. "Through these conversations, ADOR came to understand that the members had been exposed to persistently distorted and biased information over a long period, leading to significant misunderstandings about the company," the statement explained. The label plans to address controversies later and prepare for future activities, though the group's full return remains unclear.
