Entertainment
K-pop band NewJeans leaves label over mistreatment
Chart-topping K-pop group NewJeans announced Thursday their decision to leave their label ADOR, accusing the company of “mistreatment”.
The news comes two weeks after the girl group sent an ultimatum to ADOR parent company HYBE — behind K-pop sensation BTS — telling the firm they would terminate their contract unless a set of demands was met.
“From midnight today, our contract will be terminated with ADOR,” member Minji said at a press conference.
NewJeans made their debut in 2022 and the K-pop phenomenon is among HYBE’s most successful groups.
Band member Hanni said Thursday the group has “faced mistreatment, not just towards us but also including our staff”, without elaborating.
NewJeans experienced “deliberate miscommunications and manipulation regarding multiple areas”, she said.
“This is not the type of work ethic we respect and not one we want to be a part of, and to continue working under a company with no intention of protecting NewJeans would only do us harm,” said Hanni.
ADOR did not immediately respond to AFP requests to comment on the announcement.
The band members said they would continue with their contractual obligations, but acknowledged they may no longer be able to use the name NewJeans.
“However, that doesn’t mean that we are giving up on the name at all,” said Danielle.
“We will continue to fight for NewJeans. NewJeans never die.”
The group’s demands addressed to HYBE included an apology for a comment by one of the company’s managers, who is accused by NewJeans of bullying, and the immediate reinstatement of their producer Min Hee-jin.
Min resigned last week from ADOR’s board of directors after HYBE accused her of breach of trust, which sparked a sprawling legal and PR battle.
– ‘Predetermined outcome’ –
Industry experts said the decision by NewJeans was expected.
“The contract termination lawsuit itself has been widely anticipated in the market, so today’s press conference, in a way, seems to have a predetermined outcome,” said Lim Soo-jin, an analyst at Daishin Securities.
“Entertainment analysts have generally excluded NewJeans-related projections from next year’s estimates, so the overall impact is not expected to be substantial,” he told AFP.
The hefty fee which NewJeans may have to pay will compensate for “financial loss” at the label, he added.
The K-pop group may have to face a contractual penalty of up to 620 billion won ($440 million) according to legal experts.
The band members, however, disagree.
“We have not breached the exclusive contract and have done our best in our activities so far, so we believe there is no reason for us to pay any penalty,” said band member Haerin.
“On the contrary, it is ADOR and HYBE that violated the contract, leading to this situation, and the responsibility clearly lies with them.”
Entertainment
Spyro says he spends over N15m yearly on people who beg for help
Spyro, the Nigerian singer, has expressed frustration about the constant requests for money and gifts from people.
In a recent Instagram post, the ‘Who’s Your Guy’ hitmaker revealed that he spends “at least N100,000 on gifts” whenever he goes out, which adds up to “around N15 million per year”.
The 34-year-old also complained that people often insult him when he refuses to give them money or gifts.
He said being a celebrity in Lagos comes with immense pressure, and he feels obligated to spend money on others whenever he’s out in public.
“Really hard being a celebrity in Lagos. I told a guy I didn’t have anything and would see him the next day. He rained insults on me. Every day I step out of my house, I spend a minimum of N100k on gifts. Now let’s do the maths: let’s say I go out three times a week, that’s N300k per week, making N1.2m per month, and that’s about N15 million a year. Kilode,” he wrote.
“If I enter restaurant, billings go de wait me outside. I enter church, same thing. Enter estate, same. Carry phone enter online, na same same,” he captioned the post.
“Everybody wants to take, but nobody de give you, and nobody thinks of how you are fairing. 🤦🏾♂️ S/O to everyone of my colleagues out there going through this. Ya’ll are the real MVPs, and I celebrate you. 🙏🏾.”
Entertainment
Wizkid, Jada Pollock welcome third child
Wizkid and Jada Pollock, his manager, have welcomed their third child together.
The baby’s arrival was announced via a photo on Pollock’s Instagram story.
In the picture, Jada, noticeably without her baby bump, was dressed in comfortable sweatpants while holding onto a baby’s cot.
The baby’s gender, name, and date of birth, however, remain unknown.
In December, the talent manager revealed that she suffered a health scare during the first three months of her third pregnancy.
Pollock disclosed that she underwent an appendectomy. She described the period as the most terrifying experience of her life.
“At the beginning of the year, I faced the biggest fright of my life,” she wrote.
“Three months into my pregnancy, I was rushed to the hospital to have my appendix removed. Against all odds, both my baby and I made it through safely.
“Life is too short to be anything but grateful.”
Pollock, 41, and Wizkid, 34, met in 2012 when she was still managing Akon, the 51-year-old Senegalese-American singer.
The duo became friends and later lovers. They welcomed Zion Ayo-Balogun, their first child in 2017. In October 2022, Pollock announced the birth of their second child.
Entertainment
Segun Arinze addresses claims of homosexuality in Nollywood
Segun Arinze, the ace actor, has shared his thoughts on the long-standing claims of homosexuality in the Nigerian movie industry.
Addressing the allegations in an interview with Arise TV, Arinze stressed that he does not engage in homosexual activities.
The 59-year-old movie star said those who “bend over are adults and they have a right to do whatever they want to do”.
Arinze expressed his preference for living a straightforward life, focusing on his business and being a professional.
“I do not bend over, so I cannot react to it. Well if they do bend over, they should keep bending. That is their problem. They are adults and they have a right to do whatever they want to do. It is none of my business,” he said.
“I am not going to concern myself with that. I do not like those lash backs, I like living my life straightforward, doing my business and being a professional that I am.”
-
Business1 week ago
Air France deboards French national in Abuja airport for unruly behaviour
-
Entertainment1 week ago
Lala Akindoju loses dad
-
News1 week ago
‘He’s a dead man walking’ — military threatens to eliminate Bello Turji
-
News1 week ago
Celebrating Excellence in Nigeria: The Icons of Resilience, Leadership, and Innovation in 2024!
-
News1 week ago
Lagos state government to probe DJ Kulet’s husband over child molestation allegations
-
Business1 week ago
X to launch payment system this year
-
News1 week ago
Fire razes police station, three buildings in Lagos
-
News1 week ago
UNIMEDTH resident doctors in Ondo begin indefinite strike over poor conditions of service