A Girl Group Member Expelled After Dating a Fan Faces Hair-Shaving Hoax Allegations, Says Her Agency Betrayed Her [SC Issue]

A girl group member expelled after dating a fan faces hair-shaving hoax allegations, saying her agency betrayed her [SC Issue]

[Sportschosun, Baek Ji-eun] Hanada Mei, a member of Japan's popular girl group AKB48, has become embroiled in controversy over an alleged hair-shaving hoax.

On the 24th, Hanada Mei posted a nine-minute video on her account. In the video, she appeared with a badly cut shaved head, shocking viewers.

Hanada Mei said, "My behavior showed a lack of awareness as an idol, so it would have been understandable if my contract had been terminated." She added, "But the agency asked sexually charged questions, saying, 'Aren't you actually dating this fan?' and did not believe me even after I denied it. They then brought up the story of Minami Minegishi shaving her head in the past and pressured me, saying, 'If you want to stay on the team, shave your head and show your sincerity.'"

She continued, "I asked for a three-week suspension and was resting after my health worsened, but then I was suddenly told the suspension would be indefinite. There was also an incident that made me feel I would be forcibly kicked off the team if I did not shave my head. I was told that if I revealed this haircut, my contract could be terminated or I could be forced to pay compensation, but I chose to appear in public with a shaved head because I did not want any other AKB48 member to face this kind of pressure. No matter what happens, I decided to tell exactly what I went through."

Hanada Mei also posted an additional message, saying, "I am hearing all kinds of things, but I will not break. I was forced to shave my head, treated like a liar, and now the only thing I have left to lose is my life. If they demand evidence about the other members, I will release it."

Hanada Mei debuted as an AKB48 member in 2024, but her exclusive contract was terminated on the 23rd. This is the first time an AKB48 member has been expelled from the team. The agency said the contract was ended because Hanada Mei frequently arrived late due to her condition, repeatedly met with a specific fan inappropriately and continuously, and lied about it. It also denied ever forcing her to shave her head.

Public opinion appears largely unconvinced by Hanada Mei's claims.

That is not surprising, as AKB48 is a group with a history of trauma surrounding shaved heads. When Minami Minegishi was demoted to trainee status over various issues and shaved her head of her own accord in the past, AKB48 faced heavy criticism. Many now say it makes no sense that the group would force someone to shave their head in 2026. There is also widespread discomfort over references to former members who have already graduated from the team, as if they were connected to an unrelated incident. Above all, AKB48 has long been known as a relatively lenient group toward its members, even once accepting a member who had announced her marriage at a general election. For that reason, suspicions are growing that this shaving incident may have been Hanada Mei's own staged act.

Baek Ji-eun, silk781220@sportschosun.com