Idol and J-pop entertainer 菊地彩香 / Ayaka Kikuchi (15), of group AKB48, announced on her blog that she has been given the chop after a tryst with her boyfriend came to light, with this news coming on the heels of the earlier compromising photos of her that were spread on the net.
The first scandal ensued when she committed the gross indiscretion of appearing with her boyfriend in a purikura, “print club”, one of the booth machines in which a gaudily decorated photograph can be had for some coin.
This is the offending item, reading “Always together for 3 months”:
After it became public she took a break from performing, or, in other words, was suspended.
The cause of this leak? Her boyfriend posted the photo on his online profile; the career destroying scamp then later proceeded to brag online about sleeping with her, creating a major scandal, as Japanese 15-year-olds are well known for guarding their chastity and being paragons of virtue in this respect.
Fans raised their voices in indignation at the prospect of some schoolboy laying hands on their pure and virginal idol, citing it as being a deterioration of the group’s public morals, and thus damaging to the image of their precious group of pretty young virgins, although insightful observers might cite a somewhat different reason for their consternation.
To further add to the trouble, someone thought to be a friend of hers started repeatedly trolling the rabid fans, calling them a creepy bunch, and then upping the ante by posting spurious threats of taking a hand grenade to an AKB event.
Then, in response to all this and but a few days ago, she announced her “retirement”: “It’s clear to me that I committed a rash and thoughtless deed, so on the 14th I withdrew.” The announcement from her agency was less indirect: “We cancelled our exclusive use contract with her”.
I leave it to you to decide who the most sordid participants in this sorry tale are.
Regarding these kinds of fans, you may recall that their untoward actions towards the objects of their obsession are legend; only recently we hear of an idol being deliberately ignored into tears at a handshaking event, for the disgusting impropriety of having a boyfriend…
The girl in question, full of charisma:
More conclusive evidence, as if you needed any, of why digital cameras, personal blogs, etc., can be a disastrous combination for idols, undoing the carefully constructed aura of feminine unattainability with a few artless V-signs and a lot of inane grinning, to say nothing of the lack of Photoshop enhancements.
Source, and a 2ch thread is preserved here.
Idol fans sure can be retarded.
I’m a bit disappointed though, I thought the “compromising photos” would be a bit more salacious D:
Perhaps I should’ve mentioned that they’re only literally compromising, not interestingly so…
Uh… sensationalist much? There was never any mention of “underage sex” or anything of that nature at all. And fans weren’t outraged, her biggest fans and most vocal fans were at the theatre only two nights ago petitioning to get her back into the group. 2ch is full of bull if it says otherwise, my friends go to the theatre every night, as I did when I was in Japan.
Did you read the sources, or any of the other reports? She was kicked out over her sex life, and chiefly because those girls are not supposed to be having sex, and a lot of her fans were very unhappy with her.
Their reaction may be rediculously overblown, but there you have it…
Well, thats what you get for spreading your legs to anyone willing.
bf’s profile link anyone? And how do you say “does she spit or swallow?” in Japanese?
I guess it’s the idea that the idol is somewhat of a public property that is ’shared’ with the fans, to the point of religious fanaticism. It’s like finding out the wizard was only a guy behind a curtain, and feeling betrayed. Then, proceed to go berserk, probably thinking about the amount of time and money spent over the person.
That’ll teach that slut. Those fans are the only reason she and many others get to be famous at her age, in most cases without an ounce of talent. If she can’t even play her part in the deal there’s no place for her.
Now she can go back to school and fuck everyone in her class if she wants to, while smarter girls keep riding the wave.
There’s a reason sensible people don’t fuss too much over “pure idols.” It’s an disturbing business propagated by unhealthy ideals.
Such as the concept that a girl having slept with another person makes her a slut. That’s a pretty unhealthy and unsympathetic attitude, something unfit for civilized, rational, and ultimately good-hearted sentients.
I feel sorry for her, mostly ’cause her boyfriend’s a douchebag. He deserves a kick in the nuts, honestly.
But yes, idols really aren’t talented, either. Just eye- and fantasy-candy. Which makes making a fuss about them something of a pointless endeavor. And it’s not my money being poured into that industry, so I’ve no vested interest in seeing these people belittled for their personal flaws.
Do yourself a favor, keep your retarded comment to yourself.
I guess the fans overreact to this, but you can’t really blame them for it.
After all, idol groups are usually formed and created with the image of chastity and virginity in mind.
Most of the fans of such groups were made fans by that. It is their target audience.
So I guess the dismission is justified.
What I think is wrong is not this case alone, but the whole culture created around young pop idol groups.
Also, bomb treats, insults and stuff like that are NOT justifiable by any means.
She should look for professional counseling and advocates to protect her integrity in such cases.
Ijo.
Just think about why does this business is possible, thats all I have to say, the rest of for you to brainstorm . . .
Just think of how this business survives, then you’ll know what this outrage is all about . . .