After much fanfare surrounding their rebranding as “NJZ,” the girl group formerly known as NewJeans has walked back on the name. All NJZ-related posts and accounts were deleted, and their social media handles have been updated to “mhdhh” — an acronym of the members’ initials: Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.
Industry insiders believe this move was inevitable after the court sided entirely with their former agency, ADOR, in a preliminary injunction. The ruling legally barred the group from continuing under the NJZ name, citing ongoing contractual obligations.
What adds complexity is the statement released by the members’ parents. Despite rumors of internal rifts, they asserted that all five members are united and refuse to return to HYBE. They dismissed the rumors as intentional attempts to divide them, especially denying speculation about Haerin’s family being at odds with the others. Still, skepticism lingers as public perception continues to shift.
Korean Reactions: From Disappointment to Disillusionment
Many Korean netizens expressed disappointment, suggesting the group underestimated the legal and professional consequences of breaking away. Some were sharply critical, labeling the situation as self-inflicted and reckless.
Top Korean Comments (Source : Nate)
“Just follow the law. Enough drama.” (👍 568 / 👎 29)
“They seem too naive about how the real world works.” (👍 545 / 👎 35)
“Greed over wisdom. Classic case of losing everything.” (👍 515 / 👎 31)
“They should be banned from the entertainment industry.” (👍 75 / 👎 10)
“They say they’re still united… but the public isn’t buying it.” (👍 67 / 👎 16)
“This whole scandal feels like the MZ generation in a nutshell.” (👍 64 / 👎 2)
“All this over money? They ruined themselves.” (👍 61 / 👎 2)
“The fake mom couldn’t fix this?” (👍 60 / 👎 3)
Global Reactions: “Reality Check Delivered”
International audiences were largely unsympathetic, pointing to the group’s missteps and branding chaos. The tone ranged from mockery to frustration, especially around the perceived hypocrisy in blaming ADOR and HYBE.
Top Global Comments (Source : allkpop)
“We all knew this already. Keeping NJZ would’ve meant more lawsuits.” (👍 28)
“So basically, the injunction worked.” (👍 23 / 👎 2)
“They can delete the posts, but the court won’t forget.” (👍 19 / 👎 2)
“Their world’s shrinking. Not many cards left to play.” (👍 14 / 👎 1)
“They accused HYBE of rebranding — yet look how many times they’ve done it themselves.” (👍 11 / 👎 3)
“ADOR finally put them in their place. This is on them, not Min Hee-jin.” (👍 12 / 👎 5)
“NewJeans’ parents? Just as annoying as their spoiled brats.” (👍 10)
Cultural Divide: Sympathy vs. Accountability
Korean commenters, even when critical, often framed the members as naive victims of adult manipulation, underscoring a cultural tendency to protect youth and assign blame to leadership. Terms like “sacrificed kids” or “misguided by ambition” reflect this outlook.
Conversely, international audiences were far more results-oriented. Sympathy was scarce. Instead, they emphasized accountability, consistency, and professional maturity, viewing the group’s actions as self-inflicted chaos rather than tragic consequence.
This contrast reveals deeper differences in how Korean and global communities interpret fame, responsibility, and agency—especially when young celebrities challenge the very systems that made them.