Japanese pop group AKB48 terminated the contract of member Mei Hanada on June 23 over allegations of a “connection to a certain fan,” prompting the 21-year-old performer to post a response video that included claims of management urging her to shave her head in penance.
The controversy and Hanada’s subsequent video captured the attention of social media users while also sparking a sense of deja vu for fans who still remember a 2013 scandal that resulted in another AKB48 member shaving her head.
A statement on the official AKB48 website went over the reasons for Hanada’s termination, the first such case in the group’s 21-year history. The post says she initially went on hiatus due to health concerns, but during this time management became aware of her relationship with a male fan. It also denies Hanada’s claims of the staff urging her to shave her head — a dramatic step that some Japanese celebrities have taken to demonstrate contrition for a public scandal.
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