On March 18, 2025, TenAsia revealed that a legal expert has issued a warning to fans of NewJeans, now known as NJZ, amidst growing concerns about the authenticity of signatures on a petition against their former agency, ADOR, and its parent company, HYBE. Signature inflation—a tactic in which the number of signatures is artificially boosted to create a misleading perception of support—has become a focal point in this controversy.
More than 30,000 supporters of NJZ have rallied behind a petition urging the Seoul Central District Court to reject an injunction filed by ADOR, which aims to maintain its management oversight of the group following NJZ’s decision to terminate their exclusive contracts in November 2024.
As the situation unfolds, the petition initiated by the fan collective known as Team Bunnies is currently under investigation due to allegations regarding the inflation of signatures. The legal expert’s concerns suggest that such practices could tarnish the petition’s credibility and result in serious legal consequences.
The expert emphasized, “Such actions could negatively impact the cause championed by this talented girl group.”
“Petitions submitted to the court are typically written to seek leniency in cases of injustice. This petition might negatively impact NewJeans.”
An Overview of the 30,000-Signature Petition by NJZ Fans
On March 13, 2025, NME reported that approximately 30,000 fans of NJZ advocated for the rejection of an injunction sought by ADOR in the Seoul Central District Court.
The injunction reportedly aims to secure management rights over NJZ while preventing the group from pursuing advertising deals independently. Notably, the first hearing for this matter took place on March 7, 2025.
The tensions between NJZ and ADOR intensified following the group’s announcement on November 28, 2024, regarding their decision to terminate contracts, which they attributed to neglect and detrimental treatment by the agency.
Supporters voiced fears that if NJZ were compelled to return to ADOR, it would expose the group to a “hostile environment,”adversely affecting their careers and overall well-being.
The petition was launched by Team Bunnies on February 24, 2024, with a message stating:
“We support the members’ termination of their exclusive contracts. If they are forced to continue their activities with a company with whom their trust has been destroyed, it would prolong their distress and diminish joy for both the artists and their fans.”
As of March 18, 2025, TenAsia noted that the petition is currently facing scrutiny for allegations of fraudulent signature collection methods. In response to these claims, Team Bunnies posted a statement on X, denying any wrongdoing.
The coalition clarified that 10,000 signatures from domestic fans were collected via Glosign, while 20,000 signatures from international fans were organized through Google Forms. They elucidated:
“The 20,000 global signatures, which have faced accusations of inflation, were part of an original 28,329 total collected via Google Forms. We have removed approximately 10,000 entries that lacked completeness or appropriate identification.”
Furthermore, Team Bunnies elaborated on their methodology for gathering domestic signatures, emphasizing adherence to verification protocols similar to those utilized in their earlier submissions to the 50th Civil Agreement Division in April. They stated:
“These signatures were verified using authenticated information, including name, email, phone number, and a unique contract ID, all submitted as part of the petition.”
Additionally, the fan collective shared visual evidence, such as screenshots resembling Google Sheets, as further proof of their transparency.
The legal battle between ADOR and NJZ is still ongoing, with the final hearing for the injunction set for April 3, 2025. This session will determine if NJZ’s contract termination is legally binding. Should the court rule in favor of the agency, NJZ may face financial penalties and potential reinstatement to their previous management.