The ongoing legal battle between NewJeans and their agency ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE, has taken another dramatic turn. As tensions escalate in the courtroom, the parents of all five NewJeans members – Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein – have stepped forward with a powerful joint statement vehemently denying any internal division among them and accusing HYBE of exploiting private family matters for media manipulation.
On April 4th, the parents released their official position through their legal representatives at Shin & Kim LLC and via the group’s official Instagram account. This action comes in response to recent media reports suggesting a rift had formed within the members’ families amidst the contentious lawsuit with HYBE and ADOR.
“Claims that there is division among the members’ parents are completely false,” the parents declared unequivocally.
They emphasized the unwavering unity of the group, stating,
“All five members share a firm stance that they cannot return to HYBE. This decision was made after careful discussions within each family, and from the beginning, the members promised they would only take legal action if all five were in agreement.”
The statement painted a picture of solidarity, both amongst the members and their families.
“Despite the current challenges, the five members continue to meet frequently and maintain a strong friendship. As parents, this situation has brought us even closer as well,” they wrote, expressing their dismay at the circulating rumors.
“We find the baseless rumors about family discord and member withdrawal not only false but also deeply regrettable.”
Fueling the speculation were reports referencing a change in parental custody for one of the underage members during court proceedings. This led many online to assume that Haerin’s mother might be dissenting, particularly after it was noted her absence from the legal team representing her daughter. However, the parents firmly refuted this, stating,
“That assumption is completely untrue. Haerin and her family are fully aligned, and rumors about their personal matters are also false.”
The statement clarified that the custody-related decisions pertained to another minor member, widely presumed to be Hyein (born in 2008), and urged the public to refrain from further speculation on sensitive family matters.
“The custody issue involves a separate family and was done to respect the wishes of the minor. It should not be maliciously connected to the legal dispute with ADOR.”
In a strong condemnation of HYBE and ADOR‘s handling of the situation, the parents accused the company of engaging in media manipulation.
“We find it unacceptable that a company which should be founded on trust is weaponizing private family matters to influence public opinion. As parents, we cannot send our children back to such a place.”
The legal battle continues to unfold, with NewJeans challenging a court injunction that restricts them from promoting under the name “NJZ” following ADOR’s successful request to maintain its position as their official management company. The first hearing to contest this injunction is scheduled for April 9th, following a separate hearing held on April 3rd concerning the validity of their exclusive contracts.
