Last Updated:March 08, 2025, 18:13 IST
While stepping outside the courthouse with her fellow group members, Hanni was seen laughing, which irked the internet.
NJZ (NewJeans) terminated its contract with ADOR in November last year. {Photo Credit: Instagram)
ADOR, the HYBE subsidiary, filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court in December 2024 after NJZ decided to terminate their exclusive contract. The decision came after months of tension between the quintet, former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and HYBE. Through the lawsuit, the agency sought the validity of its contract with NewJeans.
Three months after the lawsuit was initiated, all five members, Danielle, Haerin, Hanni, Hyein and Minji, were summoned for the first round of interrogation on March 7. After the interrogation was over, they were seen leaving the court, a moment that was captured by several cameras. What caught the attention online was not their departure but Hanni’s unexpected behaviour.
In videos widely circulating on social media, Hanni could be seen laughing as she left the courthouse with her group members. The unusual reaction did not go down well with people on the internet and immediately sparked heated debates online. In a post titled “Hanni laughing while leaving the court” shared on Reddit, online users have called out the K-pop idol.
For many, the sight of Hanni smiling amid a legal dispute felt jarring, even tone-deaf. A section of online users also criticised her demeanour, emphasising the gravity of the lawsuit and the impact it had not just on NJZ but also on HYBE’s junior group ILLIT and senior group LE SSERAFIM.
“Ohhhh, so funny you lied about an incident that got your juniors bullied for almost a year, and some bs claim they copied you over stan twt level issue,” said a user.
Another quipped, “She is literally a mini MHJ. This is some crazy s–t. I just got the chills.”
“These girls go to the South Korean National Assembly and lie, she doesn’t care and find all of these funny,” noted a different user.
Someone else pointed out, “Smiling like this after throwing two GG under the bus for nothing?”
Not just non-fans, but even NJZ fans were disappointed with Hanni’s behaviour outside the courthouse. “Sad to see this from her. Honestly, disappointed as someone who biases her, I’m disgusted,” said a fan.
Amid the legal dispute with ADOR, the quintet rebranded themselves as NJZ last month and even created independent social media accounts across various platforms. They are even scheduled to perform at the ComplexCon 2025 Hong Kong on March 23 as NJZ for the first time.