Update 02/07/24: On NJZ’s first Instagram live under their new moniker, the members announced in addition to their performance at ComplexCon, on March 23rd, the group would also release their first new song under the name.
Shortly after 9 p.m. EST, the Instagram account @jeanzforfree changed its name to @njz_official and posted a series of photos from ComplexCon.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the name change comes as NewJeans prepares to host their first live concert at ComplexCon Hong Kong, an event confirmed by the festival’s leadership. ComplexCon Hong Kong will take place from March 21 to 23 at the Hong Kong AsiaWorld-Expo.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, member Hanni hinted at a bold transformation for the group. “It’s definitely going to be very different from what people are familiar with and the image we debuted with,” she said, explaining that NewJeans aims to “experiment with different types of performances.”
“Beforehand, we were very focused on being the kind of ‘girl next door,’” Hanni continued. “So, we’re going for a look that’s a lot sharper, a lot bolder. And fashion-wise, we love wearing streetwear and non-gendered clothing. I think that concept and aspect will play a really strong role in our new fashion as well.”
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This rebranding follows a period of internal conflict sparked by HYBE’s investigation into ADOR’s then-CEO Min Hee-jin. NewJeans, who originally formed under Min’s leadership, sided with their former CEO and filed grievances against HYBE. After a 14-day waiting period for resolution with no changes, the group ultimately departed from ADOR.
NewJeans later launched the Instagram account @jeanzforfree, where they teased a potential new name. Most recently, an Instagram story from Hanni hinted at a major announcement coming on February 6 which was revealed to be their name change and new look.
