NewJeans is making headlines again, but this time it’s not just about their music. As the K-pop sensation continues to face an ongoing legal dispute with their agency, ADOR (a subsidiary of HYBE), the members have dropped a bombshell—changing their group name to “NJZ” and announcing new plans for upcoming performances and music.

With a high-profile legal battle about to begin in March, it seems things are heating up both in and out of the courtroom.

On February 7th, NewJeans unveiled their new name “NJZ” on social media, signaling a major shift. They also revealed that they would no longer be using the name "NewJeans" publicly after terminating their contract with ADOR. Along with the name change, their social media account was updated from “JINZforfree” to “NJZ_Official”.

Fans were also treated to an exciting announcement: the group will perform at “Complex Live” at the Hong Kong AsiaWorld-Expo next month, with their new debut track scheduled for release on March 23rd, the last day of ComplexCon.

“We will unveil NJZ’s new song and debut track then,” the members shared in a live broadcast. They also reassured fans that an agent would be joining them soon, so there’s no need to worry.

However, this all comes after a tumultuous dispute. Since NewJeans announced they were terminating their contract with ADOR in November, they have refrained from using the name “NewJeans” publicly.

Despite this, ADOR insists that the contract remains valid until 2029 and has filed a lawsuit to confirm this, which would block the group from engaging in new activities like signing advertising deals.

ADOR expressed disappointment over NewJeans’ independent move, stating, “We are very disappointed that the members made this unilateral decision before the legal judgment was made.”

The legal drama is far from over, as the Seoul Central District Court is set to hold a provisional injunction hearing on March 7th, with a trial for the contract validity lawsuit scheduled for April 3rd.

Adding more fuel to the fire, the parents of NewJeans members recently opened social media accounts, signaling a new level of involvement in the ongoing dispute.

The parents apologized for any frustration caused by the long-running battle but stressed the importance of setting the record straight through these new platforms.

As the public debate continues, fans and industry insiders are growing weary of the constant back-and-forth between ADOR and NewJeans.

With the involvement of parents and mounting legal battles, many are concerned about the situation becoming an even messier public fight, similar to the FIFTY-FIFTY dispute, which saw parental involvement negatively impact the members.

An industry insider commented, “With multiple legal battles ahead, there’s concern that both sides could get caught up in a public war, each trying to damage the other’s reputation. It’s unclear whether the parents’ new social media channels will help resolve things or make it worse.”

Source: [1]

BLACKPINK’s Jennie recently shared a fun conversation with her mom, revealing her mother’s unexpected reaction to her becoming a Chanel ambassador!

On March 13, a video was uploaded to the YouTube channel "Study King Genius Hong Jin Kyung." In the video, Hong Jin Kyung visited Jennie’s office.

Since Jennie had previously mentioned that Hong Jin Kyung always makes her laugh, she greeted her warmly with a big hug.

During their chat, Hong Jin Kyung shared a personal story, saying, "My daughter Rael went all the way to the U.S. to watch BLACKPINK at Coachella, but she got scammed when buying tickets. So, she couldn’t see BLACKPINK and ended up crying her eyes out." Jennie reacted with surprise and sympathy.

As they got to know each other better, Jennie decided to call her mom to ask about her prenatal dream. However, her mom didn’t answer right away, so Jennie joked, "She’ll call back later."

Jennie also opened up about her childhood, saying, "I had a strong sense of style from a young age. I loved fashion. I was a really obedient child, but when it came to school, I insisted on wearing what I wanted."

She then talked about her experience studying alone in New Zealand for five years, starting at age nine. "I think it was a crucial experience that helped shape who I am today," she shared.

When the topic of her Chanel ambassadorship came up, Jennie said, "It’s a brand I work with, but since I’ve been with them for so long, they feel like family."

Later, Jennie’s mom finally returned her call. When Jennie asked, "What was my prenatal dream?" her mother replied, "A really big tiger… ah, it caught a carp." Jennie laughed and said, "I think Mom is confused too."

But the moment that caught everyone’s attention was when Jennie asked how her mom felt about her being a Chanel ambassador. Her mother simply said, "Ah, it’s over."

Hong Jin Kyung then joked, "Does that mean it's now my daughter's era? It’s over?"—causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Later, Hong Jin Kyung playfully suggested playing a traditional Korean game with Jennie and made a hilarious request: "Jennie, when you go to Paris, I want to carry your bag. With my own money. But I’ll just bring a tiny camera and follow you a little. I won’t go inside Chanel."

After Hong Jin Kyung won the game, Jennie kept her promise and said, "See you in Paris (in October)," leaving fans excited for what’s next!

Source: [1]