ADOR has disclosed fresh allegations against Danielle Marsh during the third hearing of its damages lawsuit, claiming she secretly recorded a song as part of unauthorised independent activities amid a contract dispute. The agency argued that the project had progressed enough to incur production costs, even if no song or music video was officially released. Alongside presenting the alleged recording as evidence, ADOR also explained for the first time why Danielle alone was named in the lawsuit among the NewJeans members. According to the label, her actions and alleged attempts to conceal them amounted to a serious breach of contract.
ADOR presents alleged audio recording as key court evidence
During the third hearing of its damages lawsuit on July 2 at the Seoul Central District Court, ADOR alleged that Danielle carried out unauthorised independent music activities in breach of her exclusive contract. The label told the court it had obtained messenger conversation logs indicating that Danielle participated in recording a song by an American artist and that the project had advanced to the stage where production costs had already been incurred.
According to ADOR, while the music video filming may have been halted, a significant portion of the project had already been completed. The agency argued that the mere fact that the song was never released or the music video remained incomplete does not justify a claim by that there was no breach of contract. Furthermore, ADOR raised questions regarding whether certain outcomes were being concealed, noting that among the members of NewJeans, only Danielle had engaged in independent entertainment and commercial activities outside the label.
Danielle Marsh was removed by ADOR from NewJeans
ADOR explains why only Danielle was sued
ADOR also disclosed for the first time why Danielle alone was named in its damages lawsuit. The agency alleged that NewJeans members had signed an exclusive agreement with a Cayman Islands-based company called AAO in September last year, creating what it described as a “double contract” that conflicted with their existing agreements.
According to the label, the other members later cooperated with to terminate the agreement. However, ADOR claimed Danielle and her mother attempted to conceal the contract until the very end. As evidence, the agency submitted transcripts of conversations among the members’ parents, alleging Danielle’s mother advised others to avoid answering ADOR’s questions and communicate only through legal representatives. ADOR argued these actions undermined efforts to restore trust, which is why Danielle was singled out in the lawsuit.
Danielle was sued by ADOR
Meanwhile, for the unversed, Danielle was removed from NewJeans on December 29, 2025, after ADOR terminated her exclusive contract following a prolonged legal dispute. The decision came after a South Korean court ruled that the group’s members must honour their contracts with the label through 2029. While the remaining members continued with the agency, ADOR stated it was “difficult to continue with Danielle” as a member of NewJeans.