On the same day that NewJeans officially unveiled a four-member lineup to celebrate the group's fourth debut anniversary, Danielle reached out to fans separately through social media. Fans have been closely watching the contrasting developments as a new team video hinting at the group's next chapter and Danielle's personal post were released around the same time.
Former NewJeans member Danielle shared an update and a heartfelt message with fans through her personal social media account on July 22, the group's fourth debut anniversary.
A post shared by @dazzibelle
At midnight, Danielle uploaded photos of herself dressed casually in front of a lake and the night sky, along with the caption, "Life gets cloudy sometimes, but the light always finds its way back in. Until then, keep shining."
She also added a message of gratitude, thanking fans for their unwavering support.
A 59-second group video titled "2026 Summer of NewJeans" was uploaded to YouTube, along with four individual videos featuring Minji, Hyein, Hanni, and Haerin, each running about one minute.
In the group film, the four members appear one by one on a quiet country road during a summer night, beginning with Minji, followed by Hyein, Hanni, and Haerin. They eventually join hands and greet viewers. The video concludes with the four members standing together, gazing at a mysterious white figure moving through a grassy field.
New images of the group and each member were also posted across the group's official social media accounts, alongside various anniversary-themed content, including ice cream inspired by the fandom name Bunnies and animated rabbit logo videos.
It marks the first time NewJeans has released new official group content since their performance at ComplexCon Hong Kong in March of last year, approximately one year and four months ago.
The new video also drew attention for featuring Minji, whose return to ADOR had remained uncertain. Her inclusion in the official content has led many fans to speculate that her return and future participation in group activities are effectively being finalized.
However, ADOR remained cautious regarding the group's future plans. The agency explained, "This content was created to celebrate NewJeans' fourth debut anniversary and share the joy with fans. Specific activity plans and details regarding future promotions will be announced once all related discussions have been fully concluded."
The anniversary videos quickly sparked an emotional response online.
Many fans welcomed the group's return with comments such as, "I can't believe we finally get to see NewJeans again," "I hope NewJeans can enjoy promoting together again," "Seeing Haerin all grown up is so emotional," "The video feels like the chilly air of dawn. Thank you for coming back," and "I can't imagine summer without NewJeans. Last summer felt so empty. Please come back soon."
At the same time, many also expressed sadness over Danielle's absence from the four-member lineup. Comments included, "Danielle..." "We hope Danielle comes back," "I'm so happy they're back... Danielle told us to keep supporting them no matter what," "It doesn't feel complete... but NewJeans has returned," "My heart hurts too much to watch the video," "I miss Danielle," "I can't explain how I feel," and "I'm truly happy they're back, but something still feels missing."
