Danielle was removed from NewJeans after the long-running dispute between the group, their agency, and former CEO Min Hee Jin. The label held the idol and ex-CEO Min responsible for the delay in NewJeans’ return and contract termination.
Bunnies (NewJeans fans) are protesting against the decision and trending “NewJeans is Five” on social media platforms. In the midst of all, Danielle’s letter to Min Hee Jin has resurfaced, which has grabbed a lot of attention. It is no secret that the 20-year-old has openly supported Min Hee Jin during her feud with HYBE. She expressed her love and support for the former ADOR CEO during interviews and award acceptance speeches.
Back in July 2024, during the peak of Min Hee Jin’s legal battle with HYBE over breach of trust and defamation, Danielle wrote a heartfelt handwritten letter. Min Hee Jin shared the letter on her Instagram, which made quite the headlines.
In it, she expressed deep gratitude, calling Min Hee Jin a “mother and warrior” who had protected the group. Danielle pledged her loyalty, saying, “You know that we’re always on your side, right? You are my family. Whatever you choose, I want to be together with you.” At the time, all NewJeans members and their families publicly supported Min Hee Jin.
The situation has changed significantly since then. According to ADOR, Hanni has decided to return to the agency, while Danielle will take a different path following her contract termination on December 29, 2025. ADOR also stated it plans to take legal action against a member of Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee Jin. The agency blames them for causing the dispute and delaying the group’s return.
The conflict dates back to April 2024, when HYBE conducted an audit of ADOR and found evidence suggesting Min Hee Jin was attempting to seize control of the label from the parent company. By November 2024, Min Hee Jin resigned as CEO and internal director. Following her departure, all five NewJeans members announced they were leaving ADOR, citing a breakdown of trust and the agency’s inability to protect them.
In October 2025, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the members’ contracts with ADOR were valid until 2029. The court explained that Min Hee Jin’s removal as CEO alone was not enough to end the contracts, and that ADOR remained capable of fulfilling its obligations.
After this ruling, the members began separate negotiations with the agency. Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni chose to return to ADOR, but Danielle’s contract was terminated. Minji and her family are currently in talks with the label about her return.
According to ADOR, the members had been exposed to “distorted and biased information over a long period,” which caused misunderstandings about the company. The agency emphasized that it aims to clarify the facts to restore trust between the artists and fans, even if the process takes time.
Despite the professional split, many have expressed sympathy for Danielle and continue to support her. A fellow volunteer praised her as a “really good person” on the same day the termination was announced.
Danielle’s departure means that the full NewJeans return won’t be possible despite the fact that fans want to see the whole group together.