NewJeans’ Danielle’s appearance sparks debate: penalty or comeback?

Amid whirling controversy, Danielle of NewJeans once again is in the headlines, when she attended a high-profile Omega event in Kyoto, Japan.

Danielle appeared in a sleek black off-shoulder dress that perfectly complemented her style.

However, her appearance quickly set the K-pop world abuzz. Fans were left wondering: did Danielle defy the court’s orders while attending the event independently, or was this a rare move made in coordination with her agency, ADOR?

K-pop fans divided

Danielle’s appearance sparked debate on X, formerly Twitter. Fans of NewJeans, now rebranded as NJZ — supported Danielle, vouching that she didn’t need ADOR’s endorsement.

However, others pushed back, arguing that fans were ignoring the reality of the legal battle. 

Without ADOR’s involvement, many of her fans are of the view that, Danielle’s appearance could have violated court orders — resulting in a hefty penalty.

What’s the dispute?

Under the terms of the injunction, NewJeans could be subject to a financial penalty of 1 billion KRW (approx. $730,000 USD) per violation, if they proceed with any unauthorized activities outside the agency’s ambit.

The legal feud between NewJeans and ADOR began in November 2024, when all of the five members announced their decision to terminate their contracts with the agency. Now, besides the ongoing legal drama, NewJeans is set to mark its third debut anniversary next month.

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