NewJeans has begun removing traces of former member Danielle and ex-ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin from its official platforms, fuelling speculation that the group plans to continue as a four-member act.
The changes come as the group remains locked in a prolonged legal dispute with ADOR, a conflict that has already forced NewJeans into hiatus and reshaped its future.
In early February, NewJeans updated its official social media accounts across X, Facebook and YouTube. The group replaced its former member photos with a minimalist logo. On X, the profile image now shows the group’s official light stick, the “Binky Bong.”
Streaming platforms reflected similar edits. Spotify no longer lists individual member names in the artist bio, removing Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein entirely. References to Min Hee-jin, long credited as the group’s producer and creative lead, have also disappeared.
The removals extend beyond social and streaming platforms. On Rhythm Hive, HYBE’s mobile rhythm game, Danielle no longer appears in NewJeans’ group image. The game has also removed her from the artist lineup and related in-game items. Fans quickly noticed the changes, prompting widespread speculation that NewJeans is preparing for a permanent lineup shift.
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The digital clean-up follows months of legal turmoil. In November 2024, NewJeans entered an exclusive contract dispute with ADOR, accusing the agency of breaching their agreements. The members sought to terminate their contracts and pursue activities independently.
A court later ruled in ADOR’s favour, confirming that the exclusive contracts remained valid. The decision blocked the group from operating outside the agency and placed NewJeans into an effective hiatus.
After the ruling, all members initially expressed their intention to return. However, their outcomes soon diverged.
Haerin, Hyein and Hanni have since reached agreements with ADOR and confirmed their return. Minji remains in discussions with the agency, leaving her status unresolved.
Danielle’s situation unfolded differently. ADOR formally notified her of the termination of her exclusive contract on December 29. The agency then removed her from the group.
ADOR has since escalated the conflict. The company filed lawsuits seeking penalties and damages against Danielle, one of her family members, and Min Hee-jin. The total amount claimed reportedly reaches 43.1 billion KRW (approximately USD 29.6 million). Danielle and the others have appointed legal representatives and are preparing a counter-response.
Following her removal, Danielle launched new Korean and Chinese social media accounts. The move suggests she may pursue independent activities.
Read more: NewJeans in Hiatus: K-Pop Legal Battle Forces Group to Pause Activities
In a letter released last month, she addressed fans directly. “Now I want to set the past aside for a moment and truly focus on what is precious — our hearts, our dreams, and the warm days we will face ahead,” she wrote. The message hinted at a future beyond NewJeans.
Min Hee-jin has also taken a public stance. In a recent press conference, she denied allegations of “tampering” related to NewJeans. Her legal team claimed the accusations amounted to “a nationwide fraud orchestrated by the family of one NewJeans member and a specific business figure.”
The remarks placed Min Hee-jin at odds not only with ADOR, but also with members she once closely supported. Once known as “NewJeans’ mom,” she has now fully parted ways with the group.
With Danielle removed and Min Hee-jin erased from official channels, ADOR appears to be consolidating NewJeans’ identity around the remaining members. Industry attention now centres on Minji, the final member whose status remains undecided.
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If Minji rejoins Hanni, Haerin and Hyein, NewJeans would formally continue as a four-member group. For fans, the quiet edits across platforms mark the end of an era.
What began as a contract dispute has evolved into a permanent fracture — one that continues to reshape NewJeans’ lineup, identity and place within K-pop’s wider conversation about power, control and artist autonomy.
