Danielle Expelled from NewJeans and Faces Multimillion-Dollar Lawsuit

The dream of seeing NewJeans return as a full five-member group has officially been broken. This Monday, December 29, 2025, ADOR (a HYBE subsidiary) dropped a media bombshell: it has terminated Danielle’s exclusive contract and declared legal war against her family.

What seemed like a reconciliation following the court ruling in October has turned into a legal nightmare that could cost the ex-member billions of won.

Here we explain point by point what happened, who is staying in the group, and why the agency has taken such drastic measures.

The Announcement on Danielle’s Dismissal: “It is No Longer Feasible to Work with Her”

Through an official statement, ADOR confirmed that after multiple discussions with the remaining members (Minji, Hanni, Danielle) and their families, they reached a definitive conclusion regarding the Korean-Australian member.

“We determined it would be difficult to continue with Danielle as a NewJeans member and ADOR artist, and we notified her today of the termination of the exclusive contract,” the agency declared.

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The decision comes just a month after Haerin and Hyein (the youngest members) confirmed their return to the agency in November. Although Danielle had initially expressed her willingness to return as a NewJeans member following the court ruling that validated the contracts until 2029, negotiations collapsed.

The Multimillion-Dollar Lawsuit: Why is ADOR Suing Danielle’s Family?

It is not just an expulsion; it is a legal battle. ADOR announced that it will sue Danielle for damages, seeking to collect the penalties stipulated in her contract.

Although they did not give an exact figure, the outlook is terrifying for the 20-year-old singer:

The Estimated Figure: Based on industry precedents (such as the case of Kris and Luhan from EXO), lawsuits for breach of contract usually amount to tens of billions of won. Given the global success of NewJeans, the figure could be astronomical.
The Reasons: ADOR accuses Danielle of “repeated violations” of the contract, including unauthorized activities and actions that damaged the reputation of the group and the company.
The Accused: The agency was very specific in saying that it will seek legal responsibility against a member of Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin.

Newjeans Danielle is no longer part of the group — Danielle, ex NewJeans member, ADOR

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According to ADOR, Danielle’s family and Min Hee-jin “played a significant role in provoking the conflict and delaying the resolution,” alleging that NewJeans members were fed “distorted and biased information” for a long time to turn them against the company.

What Will Happen to NewJeans? The Current State of the Group

With Danielle’s departure, the future of the original five-member lineup is impossible. Here is how the NewJeans board stands today:

✅ Confirmed at ADOR:
- Haerin: Returned in November.
- Hyein: Returned in November.
- Hanni: Confirmed today. ADOR revealed that Hanni and her family traveled to Korea to have a “sincere dialogue” and decided to respect the court ruling and stay.
⏳ In Talks:
- Minji: There is no final decision yet, but ADOR says talks continue “in a positive manner” to expand mutual understanding.
❌ Expelled:
- Danielle: Contract terminated with ADOR and sued for damages to NewJeans.

Who is Danielle and What Does NewJeans Lose?

Danielle Marsh (Mo Jihye), born in 2005, debuted in 2022 and quickly became a key piece of NewJeans’ identity.

Role: Known for her bubbly personality and for being the “emotional anchor” of the group.
Global Impact: Thanks to her fluency in English (she grew up in Australia) and her charisma, she was the face of the group in international promotions and interviews.
Fashion: She was a global ambassador for luxury brands like Celine, Burberry, and YSL Beauty.
Voice: Her clear, youthful vocals defined the sound of the group’s early hits.

Her departure marks a critical turning point. NewJeans was built under Min Hee-jin’s creative vision as a cohesive unit of five. Losing such an internationally visible member is a massive blow to the brand.

ADOR closed its statement pledging to “do its best to resolve the situation smoothly and ensure NewJeans returns to their fans as soon as possible,” although now, that return will be very different from what everyone expected without one of the members most beloved by fans, Danielle.

🧐 FAQs: Understanding the ADOR vs. NewJeans Conflict

So you don’t get lost in the legal drama, here we answer the key questions about this case that has been shaking K-Pop for months.

1. Why did this whole conflict start?

The problem originally exploded in April 2024, when a massive public dispute arose between HYBE (the parent company) and Min Hee-jin (the then CEO of ADOR and creator of NewJeans). Min Hee-jin was accused of attempting to make ADOR independent, which led to her dismissal. The NewJeans members took Min’s side, alleging mistreatment by HYBE’s new management and asking for the annulment of their contracts in November.

2. What did the court say about the contracts?

In October 2025, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of ADOR. The court ruled that the five members’ exclusive contracts are valid and must be fulfilled until their expiration in 2029. This forced the members to negotiate their return, as legally they could not go to another agency without paying multimillion-dollar penalties.

3. Why is Danielle the only one expelled if everyone rebelled?

According to ADOR, while Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni agreed to dialogue and return after the court ruling, Danielle (and allegedly her family) continued with actions that the agency considered irreparable “contract violations.” The agency specifically mentions that she was asked to correct certain behaviors, and upon failing to do so, they proceeded with termination for cause.

Danielle leaves Newjeans — NewJeans original formation, ADOR

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4. What does Danielle’s family have to do with this?

It is uncommon for an agency to mention families, but ADOR directly accuses a family member of Danielle of being the instigator. They allege that this person, along with Min Hee-jin, fueled the division and obstructed good-faith negotiations, preventing the singer from reconciling with the company as her bandmates did.

5. Can NewJeans continue as a group of 4?

Technically yes, but it is a huge challenge. The group has a very strong brand identity linked to the number 5 and the chemistry between them. With Minji still in doubt and Danielle out, ADOR will have to restructure the entire concept of the group, the choreographies, and the line distribution for a possible comeback in 2026.

6. What will happen to Min Hee-jin now?

Min Hee-jin continues to support the members from the outside. Following the announcement that the girls would try to return, she declared: “Whatever happens, I believe NewJeans should remain whole with all five members.” Now that ADOR has sued her again (along with Danielle’s family), the legal battle between her and HYBE is expected to intensify even further.