On December 29, 2025, ADOR announced they had terminated Danielle’s exclusive contract. ADOR effectively removed Danielle from NewJeans, triggering new legal action. For many fans, the biggest question is simple: Why Danielle specifically is got kicked out of NewJeans—when other members are returning or negotiating?
If you’re still trying to understand how a nine-month conflict escalated into a contract termination, no worries. Today, we’re going to guide you through the complete timeline—and the most likely reasons Danielle became the first member to be officially cut.
Why Danielle Got Kicked Out of NewJeans — Everything That Led to ADOR’s Contract Termination
The Dispute Begins: How It All Started
April 22, 2024: HYBE Launches Surprise Audit
HYBE announced an audit of ADOR and accused CEO Min Hee Jin of trying to seize control of the label. HYBE’s claim was explosive: that Min Hee Jin planned to gain ownership over NewJeans and take them independent.
Nevertheless, Min Hee Jin denied the accusations and countered with her own. She argued HYBE was retaliating because she raised concerns that ILLIT’s concept, styling, and choreography resembled NewJeans.
April 25, 2024: Min Hee-jin’s Emotional Press Conference
Min Hee Jin held a now-famous press conference where she tearfully denied any takeover attempt and accused HYBE of betrayal. The public tone—raw, emotional, and unusually personal—turned a corporate conflict into a national spectacle.
April 2024: HYBE Reports Min Hee Jin to Police
HYBE escalated the conflict further by filing a police report against Min Hee Jin, pushing the dispute beyond boardrooms and into criminal-investigation territory.
Legal Battles: The Moment NewJeans Entered the Fight
May 17, 2024: NewJeans Members File a Legal Plea
All five members submitted their first legal support for Min Hee Jin’s injunction attempt. It marked the first time the group publicly took a side.
May 30, 2024: Court Sides with Min Hee Jin (Temporarily)
A court granted an injunction preventing HYBE from removing Min Hee Jin as CEO at that time. It was a temporary win—but it deepened the divide.
May 2024: BELIFT LAB Files Lawsuit Against Min
BELIFT LAB responded with legal action, accusing Min Hee Jin of defamation and business obstruction over the plagiarism claims—framing the fallout as damaging to ILLIT members.
Danielle’s “Mom” Letter: The Bond That Became Symbolic
July 2024: Danielle Writes the Handwritten Letter
As the conflict intensified, Danielle wrote a letter to Min Hee Jin that later became one of the most emotionally significant artifacts of the entire dispute.
She called Min Hee Jin “Mom” and “a Warrior,” emphasizing family-like loyalty and deep personal trust.
For observers, it did more than show affection. It hinted at something bigger: that Danielle’s alignment with Min Hee Jin might not be negotiable, even if the legal tides turned.
Min Hee-jin’s Forced Exit: The Core Grievance
August 27, 2024: Min Hee Jin Loses CEO Position
HYBE removed Min Hee Jin from her CEO role and appointed Kim Joo-young, an HR specialist, as ADOR’s new head. Min Hee Jin remained involved initially as producer. However, the removal itself became the emotional and symbolic breaking point for the members.
NewJeans Goes Public: The Ultimatum Era
September 2, 2024: Minji Breaks Silence
Minji posted a statement expressing frustration that the situation remained unresolved.
September 11, 2024: Emergency Livestream — The Ultimatum
The members held a surprise YouTube livestream, issuing an ultimatum: reinstate Min Hee Jin by September 25, or else.
They raised serious allegations, including workplace harassment and privacy concerns, claiming monitoring, the leaking of private information, and unauthorized access to devices.
September 25, 2024: Deadline Passes
The deadline passed with no reinstatement. The board rejected the demand, and escalation became inevitable.
Public Testimony and Legal Escalation
October 15, 2024: Hanni Testifies Before the National Assembly
Hanni gave emotional testimony as a reference witness during an audit related to workplace harassment and artist protection. ADOR’s new CEO also testified and pledged cooperation.
October 23, 2024: Min Hee Jin’s Second Press Conference
Min Hee Jin doubled down, accusing HYBE of media manipulation and unfair removal, directly criticizing the leadership.
October 29, 2024: Ultimatum Formally Rejected
ADOR’s board officially rejected the members’ demand for the second time, stating that management and production should be separated.
The Breaking Point: Contract Termination Declared
November 13, 2024: Certification of Contents
NewJeans issued a formal legal warning demanding that ADOR correct the alleged breaches within 14 days—or face termination.
November 16, 2024: The Ominous Award Speech
At an awards show, NewJeans hinted at uncertainty about their future identity: “We don’t know until when we will be NewJeans.”
November 20, 2024: Labor Ministry Rejects Hanni’s Complaint
The Labor Ministry dismissed the harassment case on the basis that idols are “non-employees” under Korean labor law—highlighting how limited protections can be within entertainment contracts.
November 20, 2024: Min Hee Jin Resigns
Min Hee Jin resigned as ADOR internal director, fully severing ties with HYBE/ADOR.
November 28, 2024: NewJeans Declares Contract Termination
In an emergency press conference, all five members announced they were terminating their exclusive contracts and intended to continue independently, while ADOR immediately insisted the contracts remained valid.
ADOR Strikes Back: Lawsuits and the Injunction Push
December 2024: ADOR Files Two Legal Actions
ADOR filed:
- a lawsuit to confirm the contracts were still valid, and
- an injunction to block independent activities while the case played out.
“NJZ” Rebrand Attempt: A Strategy to Continue
January 2025: Trademark Application Revealed
It emerged that the members had applied for trademark rights for “NJZ”, suggesting a planned restart under a new brand while “NewJeans” remained legally tied to ADOR.
Court Rules Against NewJeans: Independent Activities Blocked
March 2025: Injunction Granted
A court granted ADOR’s injunction request, blocking members from:
- promoting as “NJZ” (or similar),
- signing third-party deals,
- doing entertainment activities outside ADOR that violate exclusivity.
March 21–23, 2025: ComplexCon Performance
Despite the injunction, NJZ performed at ComplexCon Hong Kong—an act widely seen as legally risky and potentially pivotal to events that followed.
Decisive Court Ruling: The Lawsuit Outcome Changes Everything
October 30, 2025: Court Validates Contracts
The court handed ADOR a major victory, confirming that the contracts remained valid through 2029 and approving indirect compulsory execution measures: 1 billion won per member for each unauthorized entertainment activity.
That ruling didn’t just shift momentum—it drastically narrowed the members’ options.
The Group Begins to Fracture: Returns and Negotiations
November 12, 2025: First Returns
ADOR announced that Haerin and Hyein intended to return and continue activities.
November 2025: Mixed Signals
Minji, Danielle, and Hanni signaled they intended to return to public activities—without making it clear whether that meant returning to ADOR.
November 2025: Min Hee-jin’s “Blessing”
Min Hee Jin publicly encouraged the members to move forward and expressed hope that NewJeans could remain whole.
December 29, 2025: The Final Split
ADOR disclosed it had held extensive discussions with Minji, Hanni, and Danielle and their families. Then, on December 29:
- Hanni confirmed returning to ADOR after discussions with her family.
- Minji remained in talks, with no conclusion announced.
- Danielle’s exclusive contract was terminated.
ADOR stated:
“In Danielle’s case, we determined that it would be difficult to continue together as a NewJeans member and an ADOR artist, and today we notified her of the termination of her exclusive contract.”
ADOR also announced plans for legal action against:
- a family member of Danielle, and
- Min Hee Jin,
- and reports indicated ADOR filed a lawsuit against Danielle seeking penalties and damages.
Why Danielle Specifically? COMPLETE Reasons Behind ADOR’s Move
Now that we’ve reached the key turning point, the biggest question remains: Why only Danielle got kicked out of NewJeans, while others returned or continued negotiating?
Based on the information provided, several factors stand out.
1. The “Trust” Issue: Loyalty That May Have Become Legally and Practically Unworkable
Danielle’s letter calling Min Hee Jin “Mom” showed not just support. It showed a deep identification with Min Hee Jin as family and protector. In disputes like this, companies often evaluate whether reconciliation is real or only performative.
ADOR’s termination language (“difficult to continue together”) strongly suggests they believed trust could not be restored.
2. Family Position: A Major Pressure Point in Idol Contract Conflicts
ADOR’s plan to sue a family member is one of the most telling details. It implies the dispute wasn’t only artist vs. agency—it may have become family vs. agency, complicating negotiations beyond what ADOR considered salvageable.
3. Alleged Breaches: Activities and Contracts ADOR Claims Violated Exclusivity
ADOR reportedly claims Danielle breached her contract by:
- entering conflicting arrangements,
- pursuing outside work,
- engaging in unauthorized entertainment activities.
If the agency believed Danielle’s actions were the clearest or most provable, termination would become both a legal strategy and a deterrent.
4. ComplexCon After the Injunction: A Possible “Point of No Return.”
Because the court injunction explicitly blocked independent activities, any post-injunction performance could be framed as especially serious.
If ADOR wanted to demonstrate enforcement, this moment would offer leverage.
5. Setting an Example: The Message to the Industry
By terminating one member while welcoming others back, ADOR sends a chillingly clear signal: reconciliation is available—but not unconditional.
Danielle becomes the line in the sand.
6. Irreconcilable Differences: The “We Can’t Work Together” Conclusion
The simplest reading is often the most accurate: ADOR concluded Danielle’s return would be unstable, resistant, or publicly damaging—so they chose a clean severance rather than a tense reunion.
The Current Status (As of December 29, 2025)
- Haerin & Hyein: returning to ADOR (confirmed earlier)
- Hanni: returning to ADOR (confirmed Dec 29)
- Minji: still in discussions
- Danielle: contract terminated; facing lawsuit(s)
- NewJeans: future unclear (could become 4 members if Minji returns, or fewer)
What Happens Next?
Even after Danielle’s termination, the broader conflict remains. Multiple lawsuits remain active—across ADOR, HYBE subsidiaries, Min Hee Jin, and now Danielle.
But one thing is already clear: Danielle’s removal marks the first time ADOR has chosen termination instead of simply enforcement. And that single move could reshape how idols—and agencies—calculate risk in contract battles going forward.
But what about you?
Do you think Danielle’s termination was inevitable based on everything that happened—or do you believe ADOR made her the example on purpose?
Even on the darkest of days, Danielle still refuses to dim her light. The world needs more young people like her.
— 1tokki (@juantokki) December 29, 2025
Keep shining, our sunshine. ☀️
Keep shining, our Modani! 💛🌻 https://t.co/dDFeyBO7br pic.twitter.com/yKeI5ZIlSD
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