ME:I's Shizuku Iida Announces Hiatus Amidst Allegations of Relationship with JO1's Shosei Ohira and Two-Timing Scandal

Popular idol group ME:I member Shizuku Iida has announced a hiatus from activities, sparking a major uproar among fans. This follows weekly magazine reports detailing her relationship with JO1's Shosei Ohira and allegations of a love triangle.

On the 15th, information regarding Shizuku Iida and JO1's Shosei Ohira rapidly spread across social media. Posts referring to "Bunshun" (a popular weekly magazine) claimed their relationship was "confirmed." What particularly shocked fans were the allegations that Shosei Ohira was two-timing between an ordinary woman and Shizuku Iida. Many posts suggested Shizuku Iida was "the other woman" or "the second party," leading to disappointed comments such as, "I never thought Shizuku-chan would do something like this," and "So Shizuku was the other woman... it doesn't matter if she didn't know."

While some fans expressed their emotions, saying things like, "I can't forgive myself for feeling sad" and "I'm incredibly frustrated," there were also harsh criticisms questioning her professionalism as an idol, such as, "Did you forget how many girls wanted to stand in that spot?" and "I want her to take responsibility for making the other ME:I members feel awkward."

Speculations also emerged, linking the reports to Iida's recent changes: "I felt Shizuku-chan had become cuter and more refined in recent months, and now it makes sense that it was because she was in a relationship." Furthermore, some fans expressed anger over the content of allegedly leaked letters, with comments like, "'I'm happy every day' and 'I want to be together forever' – what are you even saying? Seriously..."

With Shizuku Iida's decision to go on hiatus, many fans are concerned about her mental state. Messages hoping for her return include, "I'm worried about Shizuku's mental health," and "May Shizuku-chan's heart and life be protected." On the other hand, calls for stricter penalties are also being made, such as, "Both Shosei and Shizuku should just withdraw, not just go on hiatus," and "They are disqualified as idols," reflecting the complexity of fan sentiment.

This report involves members of JO1 and ME:I, both belonging to the same agency, LAPONE Entertainment. Concerns about the impact on the entire agency are also being raised, with comments like, "We'll never be able to have Laposta again," and "They're causing trouble for the entire Lapone group." For fans of both groups, who have supported their dreams, this situation has delivered an immeasurable shock.

The context

ME:I and JO1 are highly popular J-pop idol groups. ME:I is a girl group formed through the survival reality show "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS," and JO1 is a boy group formed through "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN."

Both groups are managed by LAPONE Entertainment, a joint venture between South Korean entertainment company CJ ENM and Japanese entertainment giant Yoshimoto Kogyo. This means the individuals involved in the scandal are from the same agency, intensifying the internal and external impact.

"Weekly Bunshun" (週刊文春) is a prominent Japanese weekly tabloid magazine renowned for its investigative journalism and frequent exposes of celebrity scandals and political controversies. Its reports are often considered credible and can have significant consequences for the careers of public figures.

Japanese idol culture often imposes strict expectations on idols, particularly regarding romantic relationships. Many fans expect idols to maintain a "pure" image and avoid romantic entanglements, especially early in their careers. Such scandals are frequently met with severe fan backlash and can significantly jeopardize an idol's career and group's reputation.

"Laposta" (ラポスタ) likely refers to "LAPONE Entertainment STAR" or "LAPONE Entertainment STAGE," an informal term for joint concerts or collaborative events featuring artists from LAPONE Entertainment. The comment "We'll never be able to have Laposta again" suggests fans fear such events will be impossible due to the scandal involving members of two of the agency's flagship groups.