Controversy has escalated around NewJeans member Danielle, who participated in volunteer work on the day ADOR announced her contract termination. Simultaneously, the group’s fandom has sparked debate by launching an online campaign targeting an overseas YouTuber.
NewJeans fans flocked to the social media channels of MrBeast, a YouTuber with over 400 million subscribers worldwide, leaving numerous comments.
The NewJeans fandom alleged that ADOR was attacking Danielle, posting hashtags such as ‘MrBeastSaveNewJenas’ on MrBeast’s TikTok and Instagram. They also made the unconventional request for MrBeast to acquire HYBE.
One fan expressed, “Although we know MrBeast cannot acquire HYBE, that is not the point. What the Bunnies (NewJeans fandom) want is attention and exposure. If MrBeast investigates or mentions this situation, just spreading the word about what is happening to NewJeans would be a significant achievement.”
In response, MrBeast expressed confusion by asking, “What do I need to do?”
Meanwhile, attorney Lee Ji-hoon, who operates the YouTube channel ‘The Lawyer You Know,’ criticized Danielle’s decision to engage in volunteer work on the day the termination news broke, stating, “This is not the time for volunteering.”
Lee argued, “A NewJeans member’s unilateral contract termination has, in some ways, harmed the company, causing losses to shareholders and investors. Engaging in volunteer activities after intentionally causing harm to someone is inappropriate. People must be aware that ‘this is not the right time.'”
He continued, “It is crucial to recognize the solemnity of the current situation. Even if they had prevailed, this approach would be inappropriate. Their actions harmed individuals. They should at least express remorse and sincerely apologize, showing restraint, particularly given that they lost the case.”
Previously, on the 29th of last month, ADOR announced the return of Hanni, following Hyein and Haerin. ADOR is currently discussing Minji’s situation, and it notified Danielle of her exclusive contract’s termination.
ADOR stated, “We deem it difficult to continue working with Danielle as a member of NewJeans and an artist under ADOR, thus we notified her of the termination of her exclusive contract today. We intend to hold one of Danielle’s family members and former CEO Min Hee-jin legally responsible for instigating this dispute and delaying NewJeans’ return.”
Regarding Danielle’s breach of contract, they explained, “Danielle engaged in activities that violated her exclusive contract, such as signing other contracts, conducting her own entertainment activities, or damaging the reputation and credit of the group NewJeans. Despite requests to rectify the situation, they took no action, which led to the termination.”
Meanwhile, NewJeans members had declared the termination of their exclusive contract with ADOR in November 2024 after Min Hee-jin’s attempt to return as CEO fell through. However, the court ruled in favor of ADOR in a lawsuit concerning the validity of the exclusive contract last October.
Images via MrBeast’s account and online community
