Daniel from NewJeans addresses fans after a lawsuit, emphasizing gratitude and stating it's not the end but a new beginning.

Daniel of NewJeans opened her mouth for the first time after receiving a lawsuit for breach of contract and damages from ADOR. She avoided commenting on the details of the lawsuit and repeatedly conveyed, "This is not the end, but the beginning." Yesterday (12th), Daniel's legal representative, the law firm Fau, revealed that Daniel would hold a live stream to interact with fans through her personal SNS channel at 7 PM that day. The legal representative stated, "Daniel intends to express her deep gratitude to fans in Korea and abroad who have continuously supported and loved her, and to share her current situation directly with them." This is the first time she has appeared after receiving a notice of contract termination from ADOR and being sued for damages and breach of contract. Therefore, attention was focused on whether she would comment on the lawsuit, but the law firm Fau dismissed this, stating, "This live stream is for pure communication with fans and is unrelated to the lawsuit." Starting the live stream at the scheduled time, Daniel greeted with, "Hello, Bunnies (NewJeans fans)" and showed her emotions. She said, "Words are not enough to express that I have been waiting for you. Bunnies have always been there. Sometimes, I read the letters and messages you sent. That warmth truly lasts a long time," and she cried while saying, "I have learned many things and have had to protect many things. My feelings about seeing my family and my perspective on the world have changed. When I think of Bunnies, the first thing that comes to mind is your gaze. The moment we faced each other on stage, even when the music stopped, our hearts continued to connect, and that memory quietly supports me now." She indirectly conveyed the situation during the contract dispute with ADOR last year. Daniel said, "I haven't talked much about the past days. I learned how to travel, listen, and be quiet. I reunited with myself under an unfamiliar sky and kept the story for Bunnies in my heart. I haven't conveyed it yet, but I hope one day you will read the letter I write." She continued, "I want to convey one thing. Many situations are still in the process of being organized. When the time comes, I will tell you what is happening regarding the lawsuit and everything you care about. And I can say this clearly: I fought until the end to be with the members. That truth remains within me." Daniel stated, "NewJeans is always in a corner of my heart. Even if we are in slightly different places, I become a Bunny with the same feelings. Without regrets," and said, "Bunnies, this is not the end. This is the beginning. In the days to come, whether through music, silence, or small moments, I want to share truthfully and beautifully. I want to convey the feelings that Bunnies gave me in the way I know slowly. May your days, from now on, be soft, healthy, and filled with light." She also expressed heartfelt gratitude to fans, saying, "Thank you, always," and added, "This is just the beginning," before ending the approximately nine-minute live stream. Daniel has been contesting the validity of her exclusive contract with ADOR alongside the other members of NewJeans since 2024. The members unilaterally notified ADOR of the termination of their exclusive contract, citing issues such as the dismissal of former representative Min Hee-jin and breach of obligations. After legal disputes, the court recognized ADOR's claims in the first-instance ruling, affirming the validity of the exclusive contract, but the members immediately expressed their intention to appeal. Meanwhile, in November last year, it was reported that members Hae-rin and Hae-in would return to ADOR. Hae-rin and Hae-in showed their intention to respect the court's ruling and comply with the exclusive contract, deciding to continue activities with ADOR after discussions. Subsequently, other members also indicated they would not appeal regarding the exclusive contract lawsuit, leading to the lawsuit concluding with ADOR's victory in the first instance. During this process, Min-ji, Hani, and Daniel also expressed their intention to return to ADOR, and in December last year, ADOR announced, "After sincere dialogue, Hani decided to respect the court's ruling and walk with ADOR. Min-ji is also in discussions with ADOR to deepen mutual understanding." However, regarding Daniel, it was clarified, "We judged that it would be difficult for her to work as a member of NewJeans and as an artist under ADOR, and today we notified her of the termination of the exclusive contract." ADOR explained that they notified the termination due to the occurrence of acts violating the exclusive contract, such as entering into contracts touching on the exclusive contract, engaging in independent entertainment activities, or damaging the honor or credibility of ADOR and NewJeans, despite requests for correction not being made within the deadline. Furthermore, they stated that they plan to hold legal responsibility against one family member of Daniel, who has a significant responsibility for causing this dispute situation, and former representative Min Hee-jin. ADOR announced, "We plan to submit a lawsuit for damages and breach of contract against Daniel today," and subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking approximately 43.1 billion won (about 430 million yen) in damages against Daniel, one family member of Daniel, and former representative Min Hee-jin. In response, Daniel immediately appointed a legal representative and submitted a power of attorney to the court. Amidst this, she repeatedly expressed to fans, "This is not the end, but the beginning," drawing attention to her future.