The ongoing conflict between HYBE and the members of NewJeans has taken another sharp turn. Just months after former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin was effectively pushed out, the label is now taking steps to remove all traces of former member Danielle from its official fan communication platform.
On March 3, 2026, ADOR announced through the Phoning app—the dedicated space for NewJeans and their fandom, Bunnies—that it will delete Danielle‘s entire conversation history. The decision has sparked immediate backlash from fans who view the move as a cruel and unnecessary measure amid an already painful legal dispute .
What Is Being Deleted and When
According to the official notice posted on Phoning, the “Messages tab” containing Danielle‘s past conversations with fans will no longer be available starting April 3, 2026, at 11:00 AM KST . The company stated that fans can still access and view these messages until the deadline, providing a limited window for those who wish to preserve their digital memories.
The notice read:
“Phoning values the memories built between artists and fans. However, in order to provide better service, we will be reorganizing certain content, and some content will be discontinued starting from the schedule below. As this content contains precious memories for fans, we are providing a viewing period in advance. We kindly ask for the understanding of the many fans who love NewJeans.”
While the company frames this as routine service maintenance, industry observers see it differently. The deletion follows the pattern set after Min Hee-jin‘s departure, where her name and image were systematically removed from company materials. This latest action is widely interpreted as ADOR’s effort to physically sever Danielle’s digital presence from the group’s official platforms .
Why Danielle Is Being Removed From NewJeans Platforms
The background to this decision dates back to late 2024. In November, all five NewJeans members held an emergency press conference and notified ADOR that they were terminating their exclusive contracts, citing a complete breakdown of trust with the company .
ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit seeking confirmation that the contracts remained valid. The court ruled in favor of ADOR, stating that “no serious grounds justifying termination are recognized” .
Following this ruling, the situation for each member took a different path. Members Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein decided to return to ADOR and resume activities. Minji is reportedly still in discussions with the agency regarding her status. However, Danielle received formal notice on December 29 last year that her exclusive contract was terminated .
At the same time, ADOR filed a massive damages lawsuit of approximately 43.1 billion won against Danielle‘s family member and former CEO Min Hee-jin, holding them responsible for causing the dispute and the group’s delayed return . Danielle has since appointed legal counsel and signaled her intention to fight the decision .
Fan Backlash and Consumer Rights Concerns
The announcement has not gone down quietly. Immediately after the notice was posted, social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) filled with angry and sad reactions from Bunnies who feel betrayed by the company .
Fans are particularly upset because Phoning is a paid subscription service. Users pay a monthly fee to exchange private messages with the members. Deleting years of conversation history without offering refunds or compensation has led many to accuse ADOR of unfair business practices .
One fan described it as “a deception of consumers to unilaterally wipe out the records without a word about refunds” . Another called it “a cruel measure that takes years of chats and memories shared with Danielle as hostages” .
Many fans are now rushing to back up their conversation records before the April 3 deadline, hoping to preserve at least some part of their digital connection with the idol .
What This Means for NewJeans’ Future
The deletion of Danielle‘s content is the clearest sign yet that NewJeans will likely continue as a four-member group. Earlier this year, the group had already begun removing traces of both Danielle and Min Hee-jin from official social media accounts and streaming platforms .
Profile photos were changed to images of the official light stick, and banner images were replaced with the group’s logo. On Spotify, the artist bio no longer lists individual member names . These small changes collectively point to a deliberate rebranding effort by ADOR to stabilize the group around the remaining members .
However, Danielle herself has not stayed silent. In a live broadcast back in January, she told fans that her departure was “not an end but a beginning,” signaling that she intends to continue fighting legally and perhaps pursue her own path in the industry .
Industry Watch: Tampering Allegations Against Min Hee-jin
Adding another layer to this complex situation, the Korea Entertainment Management Association (CEMA) has stepped in. On the same day as the Phoning announcement, CEMA issued a statement demanding that Min Hee-jin clarify allegations of “tampering” .
Tampering refers to pre-contract contact with artists while they are still under exclusive contract with another agency. Reports suggest that Min Hee-jin may have been involved in drafting the script for the NewJeans members’ November press conference and coordinating its timing .
CEMA stated that if these reports are true, it would be “a disruptive act violating the principle of good faith” and could undermine the entire K-pop industry’s contractual order . The association warned that “industry professionals who attempt tampering must be expelled from the industry and prevented from returning” .
Min Hee-jin has previously proposed dropping her claims to the 25.6 billion won she won in the first trial of the HYBE put-option lawsuit, on the condition that all five NewJeans members continue activities together. However, HYBE has not officially responded to this settlement offer .
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The Bottom Line
For now, the clock is ticking for fans who wish to save their conversations with Danielle. After April 3, those digital memories will be gone from the official platform. Whether this marks the final chapter in Danielle‘s relationship with NewJeans or just another twist in an ongoing legal battle remains to be seen.
What is clear is that ADOR is moving quickly to reshape NewJeans‘ identity without Danielle and without Min Hee-jin. The coming months will reveal whether the remaining members can successfully continue as a four-piece and how Danielle‘s legal challenge against the company will unfold.
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The K-pop industry rarely sees internal conflicts play out so publicly, but with legal actions, fan protests, and industry association warnings all happening simultaneously, this story is far from over. Stay with VvipTimes for the latest updates as new developments emerge in the ongoing NewJeans and HYBE legal battle.
Sources: Daum
