ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE, has issued a significant update regarding the future lineup of K-pop girl group NewJeans, amidst ongoing legal challenges. In a statement released on X on Monday, December 29, ADOR confirmed that Danielle, one of the quintet's original members, will not be rejoining the group. This decision follows ADOR's earlier court victory this year, which validated its position in the dispute.

According to the Korean-language statement, translated into English, ADOR has "determined that it would be difficult for her to continue as a NewJeans member and ADOR artist," and subsequently notified Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract. Furthermore, ADOR announced its intention to pursue legal accountability against a member of Danielle’s family and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. The company attributes significant responsibility to them for instigating the dispute and causing delays in NewJeans’ activities.

The update also shed light on the status of the remaining NewJeans members. It was previously announced over a month ago that Haerin and Hyein had opted to continue their work with ADOR after careful consideration. Expanding on this, ADOR's latest statement confirmed that Hanni has also agreed to stay with the group. Hanni, who visited Korea with her family, engaged in extensive and deep conversations with ADOR, reflecting on past events and objectively reviewing the situation before making her decision. Discussions regarding Minji's future with the company are reportedly still ongoing.

Tensions between ADOR and NewJeans have been simmering since 2024. At that time, the members of NewJeans had expressed intentions to sever ties with the company and pursue an independent music career. They had alleged that ADOR had breached its contract by firing former CEO Min Hee-jin, who had served as their mentor. However, a lengthy court battle concluded with a judge ruling in favor of ADOR, asserting that Min's termination did not constitute sufficient grounds for the K-pop stars to void their seven-year exclusive contract.

Following its court win in October, ADOR had initially promised fans the release of another NewJeans studio album once the legal dispute was resolved. However, the company's latest statement indicates a shift in focus. The primary objective now is to "fully resolve" any lingering "misunderstandings" between the band members and the public, acknowledging that this process may "take some time." ADOR believes that the members were exposed to "persistently distorted and biased information over a long period," which led to significant misunderstandings and escalated the dispute. The company confirmed that discussions are underway for the timing and method to address the various controversies that arose.

NewJeans originally debuted in 2022 and quickly achieved global recognition in 2023 with their 2nd EP ‘Get Up,’ which soared to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Amidst their dispute with ADOR in 2025, the quintet briefly attempted to independently release music and perform under the name “NJZ.” However, ADOR swiftly filed a preliminary injunction, ordering them to cease these activities. Consequently, in June of that year, the members were each fined $734,000 for their "unauthorized activities."