Ador says it has dropped NewJeans member Danielle amid dispute

Ador, the management label for K-pop group NewJeans, said it had terminated the contract of Danielle Marsh, who performs as Danielle, deepening the group's ongoing turmoil. The label did not provide a reason for the dismissal. Ador said three members — Haerin, Hyein and Hanni — would continue working while it continued "discussions" with Minji.

Neither Danielle nor Minji responded immediately to requests for comment on Tuesday. Ador is a subsidiary of Hybe. The move is the latest flashpoint in a more than yearlong legal battle between the label and the five-member group. Last year the members sought to break their contract, alleging workplace hostility and creative sabotage, but in October a South Korean court upheld the contract's validity.

During the dispute the members briefly rebranded as NJZ, performed once in Hong Kong and filmed advertisements individually for major Western brands before saying they would suspend such activities after court rulings prevented them from operating independently. Industry observers note that K-pop artists rarely air contractual grievances publicly and that disputes are usually handled internally.

"This practice reflects the highly centralized nature of the K-pop system, in which agencies tightly control branding, messaging, and media access," said Ray Seol, an expert at Berklee College of Music.

Key Topics

Culture, Newjeans, Danielle Marsh, Ador, Hybe, South Korea