A fresh wave of turmoil has erupted between the visionary music director and Ador, the agency, embroiled in a contentious dispute over the deletion of cherished music videos. Amidst this storm, NewJeans' beloved member Minji has gracefully shared her heartfelt sentiments, mirroring the group's emotional turbulence. Following the abrupt departure of former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin and the stunning announcement by Shin Woo-seok, the creative mastermind behind numerous NewJeans' visual masterpieces, that he would sever ties with the agency, Minji's words resonate deeply.
On Monday, Minji penned an emotional ode on the fan platform Phoning, painting a vivid picture of her inner turmoil. "As the sweltering summer faded into anticipation for autumn's embrace, I found myself instead engulfed in unease. The whirlwind of recent events has left me yearning to connect and unravel it all, yet days have passed since I've had the solace to do so," she mused.
Acknowledging the overwhelming support from their devoted Bunnies, Minji expressed a poignant longing to offer comfort but felt powerless in the face of adversity. "Amidst the flurry of joyful moments we barely had time to savor, why must we endure this unwarranted strife? My heart aches with sorrow and frustration, knowing I cannot single-handedly mend what's broken," she confessed.
Closing her heartfelt message, Minji shared a heartfelt wish: "The horizon of these tumultuous days remains uncertain, and perhaps it's selfish to voice this, but I fervently pray that neither our cherished Bunnies nor we must traverse these troubled waters any longer."
Echoing Minji's sentiments, Danielle also chimed in, revealing the personal struggles she's faced since the CEO's dismissal. "Truthfully, since our leader's departure, I've been navigating a sea of worries and uncertainty, often feeling adrift in a state of panic. Anxiety has been my constant companion," she admitted. Despite the challenges, Danielle vowed to remain a beacon of positivity for her fans. "Yet, amidst the chaos, you, our Bunnies, have never left my thoughts. I strive to present only the brightest facets of myself, hoping to bring you joy amidst the storm," she pledged.
The agency itself, Ador, is navigating uncharted waters. On August 27, a seismic shift occurred as Min stepped down from her CEO role, with Kim Joo-young, an internal director, assuming the helm. However, the transition hasn't been without controversy, as Min's team contends the decision was made unilaterally.
Adding fuel to the fire, Shin Woo-seok, the visionary behind hits like "Ditto," "ETA," and "OMG," announced the end of his collaboration with Ador on September 2. Citing changes in the agency's policies, he revealed that he was instructed to delete all NewJeans-related content produced by Dolphin Kidnapping, his production company. The move resulted in the disappearance of videos once hosted on the "Ban Hee-soo" channel. "As of today, a continued partnership with ADOR appears impossible," Shin lamented.
Ador, however, has refuted Shin's claims, clarifying that the request pertained solely to the disputed director's cut of the "ETA" music video, which featured unauthorized elements. The agency emphasized that they never sought the removal of all NewJeans content and stressed that the copyright of all music videos and related works reside with Ador, necessitating their posting on official channels.
