K-pop sensationNewJeans shocked fans on April 4, 2025, by abandoning their recently adopted name NJZ and erasing all posts from their social media account. The group, made up of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, changed their Instagram handle from @njz_official to @mhdhh_friends—a name blending the first initials of their English names. This move has left fans buzzing with questions about what’s next for the group amid their ongoing legal fight with their label, ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE.
Hold onto your seats, because this is a wild ride! Just when fans thought they’d seen it all, NewJeans pulled a fast one, wiping their online slate clean and ditching NJZ. It’s a bold step that’s got everyone talking, and we’ve got the full scoop right here.
The group first introduced the NJZ name in February 2025, signaling a fresh start after splitting from ADOR in November 2024. They even performed as NJZ at ComplexCon in Hong Kong on March 23, 2025, debuting a new song called “Pit Stop.” But a court ruling on March 21, 2025, siding with ADOR, put a halt to their independent plans, forcing them to pause activities. Now, this latest social media shake-up has fans wondering if the group is gearing up for a new chapter—or facing more roadblocks.
A Legal Battle That Won’t Quit
The drama kicked off back in April 2024, when HYBE accused ADOR’s then-CEO, Min Hee-jin, of trying to take NewJeans and make ADOR independent. Min Hee-jin, who created the group in 2022, was fired in August 2024, sparking outrage from the members. They stood by her, even holding a surprise livestream in September 2024 to demand her return. When HYBE didn’t budge, the five members—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—announced on November 28, 2024, that they were done with ADOR.
They claimed ADOR broke their contract by mistreating them and failing to protect their interests. Hanni said at a press conference,
“Staying here would be a waste of time and would only bring pain, mentally. There is nothing we can gain professionally from staying here, so the five of us see no reason to remain at Ador.”
ADOR fought back, saying the contract—set to run until July 31, 2029—was still valid. They took the case to court, and on March 21, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court agreed, granting an injunction that stopped NewJeans from working independently. The group performed as NJZ in Hong Kong two days later but announced a hiatus, with Hanni telling the crowd,
“It is really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while.”
Now, with the NJZ name gone and their social media wiped, it’s clear the legal mess is far from over. A bigger hearing to decide the contract’s fate is set for later in April 2025.
Parents Step In to Clear the Air
Adding to the chaos, rumors swirled about a rift among the members’ parents. Some reports suggested not all families supported the decision to leave ADOR, with Haerin’s family singled out. But on April 4, 2025, the parents fired back with a united statement via their own social media account, now called @mhdhh_pr. They said,
“The reports from some media outlets claiming that there is a division among the members’ parents are completely untrue. All five members have a firm stance that they cannot return to HYBE, and this decision was made after thorough discussions with their respective families.”
They stressed the group’s unity, noting that the members only moved forward with legal action after all five agreed. The parents also slammed rumors about Haerin, calling them “entirely false” and saying the family was “experiencing extreme emotional distress” from the speculation. They even pointed to South Korea’s Family Litigation Act, warning that publishing personal details could break the law.
The parents’ account switching to @mhdhh_pr mirrors the group’s new handle, showing they’re all on the same page. They ended by saying,
“We want to make it absolutely clear that all families are fully respecting and supporting their children.”
What’s Behind the Social Media Wipe?
So why ditch NJZ and erase everything? The move comes after ADOR warned that using the name or posting without permission could breach their contract. Back in February, when NJZ was announced, ADOR said,
“The exclusive contract with the members remains valid and is currently under legal review. Unauthorized content uploads or entertainment activities outside of official channels may violate the contract and cause confusion for both fans and advertisers.”
The court’s March ruling backed ADOR, and legal experts warned that using NJZ could lead to trademark trouble since NewJeans belongs to the label. Lawyer Ko Sang Rok told AllKPop in February,
“The ‘NewJeans’ trademark belongs to ADOR. Even if the members argue that the contract was terminated due to ADOR’s fault, this does not grant them rights to the trademark. There is a 99.9% chance that legal authorities will deem ‘NJZ’ a confusingly similar trademark to ‘NewJeans.’”
With a penalty of up to 620 billion won (around $420 million) on the line for breaking the contract, the group might be playing it safe by dropping NJZ and starting fresh with @mhdhh_friends. Wiping their posts could be a way to avoid more legal heat while they wait for the next court date.
Fans Rally as the Future Hangs in Balance
Fans, known as Bunnies, are reeling from the sudden change. Posts on X show a mix of worry and hope, with some saying the group’s just finding new ways to connect despite the restrictions. One fan wrote,
“Think it like you know how they were barred from the name newjeans so changed to jeanzforfree well it happened again barred from NJZ temporarily so now it’s MHDHH they just want to communicate with us again.”
The group’s Hong Kong performance hinted at new music, with Haerin telling CNN in February that it’d have a “very unique and different sound.” But with their hiatus and this latest twist, fans might have to wait longer to hear it.
ADOR insists they want the group back, saying in March,
“We are fully committed to supporting the artists and hope to meet with them as soon as possible to discuss the path forward.”
Meanwhile, HYBE’s stock has taken a hit—dropping 31.5% from April 2024 to September 2024—partly due to this mess and BTS’s military break. The company’s poured 21 billion won ($14 million) into NewJeans, and each member’s reportedly gotten 5 billion won ($3.4 million) in settlements since 2023, according to ADOR’s court claims.
What’s Next for NewJeans?
This social media reset could mean a few things. Maybe they’re dodging legal risks while planning their next move. Or perhaps they’re signaling a total rebrand, free from NJZ and NewJeans, as they fight to break away from HYBE and ADOR. The members have said they’re done with the label for good, with Danielle telling CNN,
“We have completely lost trust in ADOR. We believe we will win this battle against HYBE and ADOR.”
For now, the group’s future is up in the air. Will @mhdhh_friends be their new home, or is it just a pit stop? One thing’s for sure—their bond with each other and their families is rock-solid, and they’re not backing down.
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