On August 23, netizens circulated photos of NewJeans member Danielle at a charity sports event wearing Nike sportswear, raising suspicions that Danielle violated a court order suspending all independent activities of the group members until a final ruling is issued.
According to a netizen, the account that shared Danielle’s photos tagged the brand’s official account, raising suspicions of an unannounced promotional collaboration between Danielle and Nike. However, the tagged posts were later deleted.
@Snper22 shared: “A photographer posted a series of #NewJeans photos of herself wearing Nike products and tagged Nike’s official accounts, then suddenly deleted them all.”
It’s worth noting that last March, a Seoul court issued an injunction prohibiting the members from engaging in any activities independent of their agency, ADOR, until a final ruling is issued. Each member will be fined One billion won (approx, $730,000 USD) for each independent activity without the agency’s coordination.
A notice revealed the legal status of the NewJeans members, stating, “Prohibited activities include musical activities such as writing lyrics, composing, performing, and singing, as well as activities related to these activities such as appearing on radio programs, hosting events, negotiating and concluding advertising contracts, appearing in advertisements as models, or engaging in commercial activities based on the status or popularity of pop culture artists. One billion won will be paid to creditors for each violation.” @alldoorsoneroom @NewJeans_ADOR”
If it is proven that Danielle’s appearance at the event was paid or part of an unofficial collaboration with the brand, she could face legal action and fines for violating the court order.
Recently, Danielle has become more visible in public events. On August 15, she actually participated in the 815 Run charity marathon in Seoul’s Gwangbokjeol to mark Liberation Day, appearing in simple running clothes among a group of runners. On August 11th, she was also spotted running with Sean (Jinusean) and Park Bo Gum.
Netizens React:
Netizens’ opinions were divided, with some accusing Danielle of trying to attract attention amid the members’ declining popularity, and others suspecting unannounced promotional collaborations with brands. If it is proven that she received financial returns from these activities, she could face legal action.
- “I thought Hani was the most attention-seeking of the group.” The five girls, but this one is the most desperate of them all. I bet we’ll see her at another charity event, church, or club later. Just pay the penalty instead of doing all these cheap tricks to get noticed.
- “My guess: They posted the post hoping to generate buzz and maybe get endorsements, then got a call from the label asking them to take it down.”
- “Even if the photos were taken down, it wouldn’t help because they’re already out there.”
- “That photographer could be sued for using Danielle’s photos without ADOR’s consent, especially if they’re used to promote Nike.”
- “All they care about are brand deals. They called Hybe financially greedy, but they seem to be just as greedy, lol.”
- “Wasn’t she the one who was going to release a collaboration? She hasn’t learned her lesson yet. She needs to be fined and punished ASAP.”
