ADOR responded to NewJeans managers’ accusations of harassment against the label with threats of legal action.
The agency alleges that “A,” the manager who filed workplace harassment complaints against ADOR CEO Kim Joo Young, had breached contract and cited misconduct.
ADOR accused the manager of contacting an advertiser directly and making an exclusive deal with the artist and brand, excluding the company in the process.
“Under the exclusivity agreement, the artist is required to conduct all entertainment activities exclusively through ADOR,” ADOR said in a statement to Export News.
“Despite being given ample opportunity to explain his actions, the manager made false statements contrary to clear evidence and refused to cooperate with the investigation.”
The employee in question, the company added, “admitted this communication, which constitutes a serious act of misconduct facilitating the violation of the artist’s exclusivity contract.”
The label, based on its own internal investigation, says it gave the employee multiple opportunities to explain, which he refused.
“Under the exclusivity contract, the artist is required to carry out all entertainment activities exclusively through ADOR. Despite having had ample opportunity to explain his actions, the manager made false statements contrary to clear evidence and refused to cooperate with the investigation,” they said.
ADOR placed the employee on administrative leave and demanded the return of company assets, including a company laptop. The company claimed that information on the laptop had been tampered with at the time of recovery.
“All information relating to work performed using company assets must be returned without unauthorized deletion,” they said.
“However, the manager delivered the laptop just a few hours later, after receiving it from an unknown party. It had been formatted to the point of being unrecoverable, making it impossible to determine what data was deleted in the process. We intend to thoroughly investigate the truth and take the necessary legal action.”
Label ADOR and K-pop group NewJeans are currently engaged in a legal battle over the validity of their contract. NewJeans announced plans to terminate its exclusive agreement with the company, citing concerns of harassment and bullying.
ADOR responded to the girls’ claims with a lawsuit to support and confirm in court the validity of their exclusivity agreement.
