NJZ Performs New Song ‘Pit Stop,’ Announces Hiatus at ComplexCon

Ok-Pop supergroup NJZ, previously often known as NewJeans, introduced throughout a present at ComplexCon Hong Kong Sunday (March 23) evening that “this is likely to be our final efficiency for a short time.”

It was the primary time NJZ appeared collectively since Friday (March 21), when a Seoul Court docket granted the band’s former administration firm Ador — whom they’ve been in a dispute with since mid-2024 — a preliminary injunction prohibiting the woman group from “organizing their very own appearances and [conducting] any unbiased actions — from making music to signing promoting offers,” in keeping with BBC.

After debuting a brand new music, “Pit Cease,” the 5 members (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein), visibly nervous, gathered onstage, stopped the music and took turns studying from a letter, addressing “their bunnies” in English and Korean.

“This stage means a lot to us and each single considered one of you who offers us power simply by being right here,” Hanni and Dani learn in English. “It’s actually arduous for us to say this, however this is likely to be our final efficiency for a short time. Out of respect for the court docket’s choice, we’ve determined to pause all our actions for now. It wasn’t a simple choice, however we imagine that is one thing we have to do at this second.

The speech (learn in full beneath) got here on the finish of an hour-long headlining set in entrance of a sold-out crowd of greater than 11,000 followers on the AsiaWorld Expo Area, Hong Kong’s largest reside music venue.

The efficiency that preceded the remarks centered on “solo phases” from the 5 group members as they coated R&B songs. It left many within the viewers — who confirmed as much as hear new music from their favourite artists — scratching their heads, because it was a departure from NJZ’s high-energy productions, polished choreography and vibrant stage presence. The covers ranged from TLC’s “No Scrubs” from Danielle; UPSAHL’s “Smile For The Digicam” from Minji; “Dontcha” from Haerin; SWV’s “Use Your Coronary heart” from Hyein; and Ghost City DJ’s “My Boo” from Hanni.

In February, NewJeans introduced they have been altering their title to NJZ as they have been added to the ComplexCon invoice. BBC studies that the dispute over the group arises from Hybe, the mother or father firm of Ador, allegedly forcing out NewJeans’ mentor, Min Hee-Jin. At a press convention in November, NewJeans introduced their departure, saying Hybe and Ador had misplaced the appropriate to symbolize them as artists. NJZ says they’ll problem Friday’s choice.

That is the second 12 months of ComplexCon, the worldwide streetwear and popular culture competition, in China. In 2024, ComplexCon attracted greater than 30,000 worldwide attendees. The U.S. version moved to Las Vegas in 2024 after eight years in Los Angeles. In 2025, over three days, the competition hosted 150 manufacturers, 40 musicians and teams, and 400 creators throughout music, design, motion pictures and sports activities.

NJZ had a merch sales space contained in the ComplexCon market, which commanded a line of greater than 2,000 folks on Sunday alone. Nevertheless, the sales space was shuttered after it offered out of all new NJZ merchandise.

This 12 months’s Complicated LIVE! Live shows, which introduced collectively South Korean, Japanese, Chinese language and American hip-hop artists and DJs, featured the Hong Kong debuts of Quavo and Metro Boomin, who headlined evening one.

Learn Hanni and Dani’s full assertion beneath.

“This stage means a lot to us and each single considered one of you who offers us power simply by being right here. It’s actually arduous for us to say this, however this is likely to be our final efficiency for a short time. Out of respect for the court docket’s choice, we’ve determined to pause all our actions for now. It wasn’t a simple choice, however we imagine that is one thing we have to do at this second.

Truthfully, we’ve recognized from the beginning that this journey wasn’t going to be straightforward and though we settle for the court docket’s ruling and this complete course of, we needed to communicate as much as shield the values that we imagine in, and that was a alternative that we don’t remorse in any respect. We certainly imagine that standing up for our dignity, our rights and every thing we deeply care about is one thing we needed to do, and that perception won’t change.

We perceive and know that right now’s information is likely to be disappointing or upsetting however it was not a simple choice for us to make both. However in the intervening time for us, it’s about defending ourselves in order that we will come again even stronger.

There was loads that we needed to undergo … issues that actually we solely find out about. However even [through] all that, there are such a lot of issues that we wished to share with you guys and so many enjoyable plans that we’re excited to announce. However proper now, although, it feels too arduous to maintain going at this tempo, and as robust as we try to remain, it has actually taken a little bit of psychological and emotional toll on us. Nevertheless, this doesn’t imply that we’re going to surrender. We are going to hold pushing ahead it doesn’t matter what, and coming to Hong Kong and receiving all this love and assist from you guys at ComplexCon gave us a lot power.

Proper now, our hearts are a little bit bit worn out, and it feels a bit too arduous to maintain going at this tempo. However that doesn’t imply we’re going to surrender; we’re going to maintain going. With this choice we’ve made, we’re respecting the court docket’s choice, and for now, it’s simply us taking a step again to pause, take a breath and collect our hearts and ourselves earlier than shifting ahead.

To everyone who has been believing in us and supporting us via every thing from the underside of our hearts, thanks, and we love you so, so, so, a lot, and we will’t specific how grateful we’re, and we promise, it doesn’t matter what the circumstances we’ll meet once more quickly.”