On March 4, Sports Khan reported that the introduction of NewJeans on Apple Music had been completely revised. The current description now lists only four members, with Danielle removed. Earlier, on March 2, the official banners of NewJeans on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube were changed from group photos featuring the members to the group’s logo. The group’s information page on Spotify was also updated, reducing the lineup from five members to four. (Photo: Osen)
According to Sports Khan, ADOR appears to be taking strong steps to completely erase Danielle’s traces from the group. Recently, the company also announced that the archived chat history involving Danielle on the fan platform Phoning will be discontinued starting April 3. (Photo: Allure, iMBC)
Previously, ADOR notified Danielle of contract termination last December, citing responsibility for delayed activities and departure issues. The company also filed a damages lawsuit reportedly worth 43.1 billion KRW against both Danielle and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, who currently heads OOAK Records.
Although the platform cited “service reorganization” as the reason, industry observers interpret the move as a follow-up measure to remove Danielle’s presence from NewJeans’ history. Many see it as an extension of ADOR’s broader rebranding efforts, which began with the unveiling of a new brand identity, “All Doors One Room,” and what some describe as a systematic distancing from Min Hee-jin’s legacy.
The swift transition from legal expulsion to digital deletion appears aimed at stabilizing the group around its remaining members. However, backlash from the fandom, known as Bunnies, is already mounting. Shortly after the notice was posted, criticism flooded social media platform X, with some fans condemning the move as “cruel,” arguing that years of conversations and memories are being held hostage. Many are reportedly rushing to back up chat histories before the deletion deadline.
Concerns have also been raised about potential consumer rights violations, as Phoning operates as a paid subscription service that allows fans to exchange private messages with members. Some subscribers have criticized the lack of mention regarding refunds or compensation, calling the unilateral deletion of paid content misleading and unfair.
In January, Danielle addressed fans during a livestream, stating that this was “not the end, but the beginning,” signaling the possibility of a legal battle ahead. As ADOR continues to take strong measures, the K-pop industry is closely watching how the dispute and the fan response will unfold.
Sources: Daum