Danielle, now a former member of K-pop act NewJeans, has finally broken her silence following her removal from the group and the termination of her contract with her agency, ADOR.
On Monday, Jan. 12, Danielle held a 10-minute live session streamed simultaneously on her YouTube channel and newly launched Instagram page—both of which she had only announced earlier that day. The broadcast marked her first public message since ADOR confirmed the end of her exclusive contract.
Based on a translation by Korea JoongAng Daily, the Korean-Australian singer spoke alternately in Korean and English as she addressed both domestic and international fans.
She appeared visibly emotional as she greeted viewers, saying, “Why are the tears already coming… This moment of saying goodbye still feels a little unfamiliar.”
She added, “‘Thank you for waiting’ doesn’t feel like enough. Bunnies were right there the whole time,” referring to NewJeans’ fans.
Danielle then shared deeply personal sentiments about her bond with fans.
“When I think of Bunnies, the first thing that always comes to mind is their eyes. The moments we met on stage, our very first stage, the silence right before the music… even when the music stopped, that feeling of our hearts staying connected. Those memories are quietly holding me up now.
The past days — those days — I didn’t say much. I traveled, and I listened. I learned how to stay still. Under unfamiliar skies, I found myself again, and I kept stories meant for Bunnies in my heart. I haven’t shared them yet, but I hope that one day you’ll be able to read the letters I wrote for you.”
While she had initially clarified that her live message would not focus on the controversy involving her, NewJeans, and ADOR, Danielle still briefly acknowledged the situation, assuring fans that it is currently being handled.
“There’s one thing I really want to say. Um… right now, a lot of things are still in the process of being sorted out. And when the time comes, I will update you all — about what’s happening, about the lawsuits, and about everything you’re curious about,” Danielle stated.
On Dec. 29, ADOR announced the termination of its exclusive contract with Danielle and said it would pursue legal action against her and a family member for allegedly “precipitating” the dispute between the group and the company, as well as NewJeans’ departure and delayed return.
The agency later filed a damages lawsuit worth 43.1 billion won (approximately US$29.7 million) against Danielle, her family, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin.
Despite the fallout, Danielle emphasized her loyalty to the group and her former bandmates, “And this much I can say for certain. I fought until the very end to be together with the members. And that truth stays with me. In one corner of my heart, NewJeans is always there.”
The singer further shared a hopeful message to Bunnies, emphasizing her belief that her bond with fans remains unbroken despite the uncertainty surrounding her future.
“Even if we’re in slightly different places, we’ll share the same heart and become one Bunnies — as by me, and as a family. Bunnies, this isn’t the end. It’s a beginning!”
“In the days ahead — whether it’s music, silence, or small moments — I want to share them truthfully and beautifully with you. The feelings Bunnies gave me — I want to return it slowly, in the way I know how. I hope your days — each day from here on — are gentle, healthy, and filled with light.
“Thank you. Always. This is only the beginning,” Danielle concluded her live session.
NewJeans and ADOR had been locked in a legal dispute over the validity of the group’s exclusive contract. After NewJeans lost a lawsuit in which ADOR sought to confirm the contract’s validity, Danielle reportedly expressed her desire to return to the agency.
However, ADOR later notified her of the contract termination, stating that it would be difficult to continue working with her either as a member of NewJeans or as one of its artists.
