Latest news with #J-pop
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Former THE BOYZ member Ju Haknyeon denies prostitution claims after hotel meeting with pornstar Kirara Asuka sparks scandal
K-pop idol Ju Haknyeon has issued an emotional apology to fans after a scandal involving his meeting with former Japanese adult film star Kirara Asuka. His statement comes hours after he was officially kicked out of his group, THE BOYZ. Speaking directly to his supporters, he acknowledged being present at a Tokyo hotel on May 30 but firmly denied involvement in prostitution or any illegal activity. He expressed regret for the distress caused and emphasised that he never intended to break the trust fans placed in him. Ju Haknyeon apologises over Kirara Asuka controversy after THE BOYZ departure Ju Haknyeon has finally broken his silence. In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram after days of speculation and media firestorms, the former THE BOYZ member said he was sorry for letting fans down. As translated by Koreaboo, you can read his letter below: "On May 30, 2025, I had been present at a gathering with alcohol involved around dawn, along with my acquaintances. It was true that I was there, but it is totally untrue that I participated in either illegal actions or prostitution as suggested by articles and rumours. I am deeply reflecting over my actions and want to offer my sincerest apologies to those who were shocked." Hello, this is Ju Haknyeon. First of all, I apologize to all the fans who were shocked by the article about me. I am also deeply sorry for causing any inconvenience due to the unfortunate incident. On May 30, 2025, I was with someone at a hotel, and while I was indeed there,+ One Hundred terminates Ju Haknyeon's contract For fans, the shock wasn't just about the rumours; it was about how fast everything unravelled. Just days after the photos surfaced, Haknyeon's label, One Hundred, announced that he would be taking a hiatus. But soon, it became clear that this was no short break. On June 18, the agency confirmed that Haknyeon was officially out of THE BOYZ. His contract was terminated. "We recently took action to suspend Ju Haknyeon's activities as soon as we were informed that he was involved in a controversial incident in order to take time to thoroughly investigate and verify the facts. As a result of our investigation, we have recognised the severity of the issue and have taken it seriously. We have realised that it has become difficult to maintain our trust in him as an artist. Due to this, after sufficient discussions with the members of THE BOYZ, we have decided that Ju Haknyeon will be withdrawing from the group and that his exclusive contract will be terminated. We kindly ask for your understanding that this decision was an inevitable decision made to protect the members of THE BOYZ and the group as a whole. We are informing you that as of today, Ju Haknyeon will no longer be part of THE BOYZ and will cease all activities with the group." Kirara Asuka and a trail of rumours This isn't Kirara Asuka's first brush with controversy. Before this, she was rumoured to be involved with a J-pop idol and accused of cheating on her boyfriend, Japanese YouTuber Ryu Hirokawa. The gossip surrounding her and Haknyeon only added fuel to an already burning fire. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Tokyo Weekender
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
JO1's Shion Tsurubo Under Investigation for Criminal Online Gambling Activity
It's a bad week to be a male idol. Following BTS's Jungkook's accidental brush with Japanese politics via a MAGA hat, JO1's Shion Tsurubo, 24, is now facing possible prosecution in Japan on suspicion of illegal online gambling. Over the course of nine months, he's believed to have placed roughly ¥15,000,000 in bets on a foreign casino site — and lost nearly half of it. Even in J-pop scandals, it seems, the house always wins. The site, K8, is legally operated overseas. But Japanese law is strict: Gambling from within Japan, even on legal international platforms, is flatly illegal. Tsurubo reportedly accessed the site from his smartphone, often while traveling for work, and favored games like online roulette. When questioned, he allegedly said, 'I like pachinko and I could do it anywhere.' Apparently, that included hotel rooms between tour stops. The case wasn't uncovered through a moral crusade against idol misbehavior, but as collateral damage in a separate criminal investigation into illicit funds. Tsurubo was voluntarily questioned earlier this year, and was formally accused of 'simple gambling' — a light-sounding charge that still comes with legal consequences and plenty of public scrutiny. A Swift Fall — and an Even Quicker Redemption Arc On May 31 , Tsurubo's agency, Lapone Entertainment, announced he would take a 10-day break from group activities. During that time, he reportedly completed a 'rehabilitation program' and reflected deeply on the concept of social responsibility. On June 10, he was back in action, new and improved. Lapone's statement promised that Tsurubo would be 'more sincere than ever' in his future activities. Tsurubo himself issued a formal apology, expressing 'deep shame' and pledging to win back trust through his actions. He ended with a familiar refrain in the idol world: sincere regret, vows of personal growth and thanks to fans for sticking around. Japan's High-Stakes Online Gambling Problem While online casinos like K8 operate legally in other countries, gambling from within Japan remains unambiguously illegal. Still, the business thrives. Annual online gambling from Japanese users is estimated to exceed ¥1.2 trillion. Tsurubo didn't break new ground. He just had more eyes on him. When a 24-year-old idol is punished for doing in private what half the country does in broad daylight, it's worth asking: Is this about justice, or just optics? Whether prosecutors press charges or quietly shelve the case, the outcome may say less about justice than it does about visibility. He (allegedly) bet ¥15,000,000 and lost ¥7,000,000. Now he's betting on public forgiveness.
Japan Today
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Why Japan's J-pop idol industry bans sex, dating and romance
By Jeff W. Richards What really goes on inside Japan's idol industry? In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the strict no-dating and no-sex rules placed on Japan's J-pop idols — especially young women. From emotional control and punishment tactics to the rise of AI-generated performers, we take a deeper look at the power dynamics, mental health pressures and cultural double standards baked into the system. Idol culture may be a form of entertainment, but it comes with strict rules and unsettling control. From emotional control and punishment tactics to the rise of AI-generated performers, we take a deeper look at the power dynamics, mental health pressures and cultural double standards baked right into the system. Are these just industry norms — or signs of something more troubling underneath? Chapters: 0:00 Topic overview 1:21 Birth of idol singers 2:32 Dating rules and punishment 4:38 Management control methods 5:08 Mental health issues 6:02 Role in Japanese culture 7:58 Is the industry likely to change? 9:46 Outro Japan Today sources: See the Japan Today Spotlight series: Join the conversation! What do you think — are these 'no dating' rules just part of the job, or do they cross a line? Let us know in the comments. Don't forget to like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an update on Japan's biggest news stories on our YouTube channel: Follow us for more updates: The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of GPlusMedia, Inc. © Japan Today
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Is Ayumi Hamasaki Elon Musk's latest baby mama? J-Pop diva breaks her silence as internet explodes
J-pop star Ayumi Hamasaki, known as J-Pop diva, finally talked about the rumor that Elon Musk is the father of her children. She clearly said, 'Elon Musk is not the father of my children.' Hamasaki has two sons with two different fathers, but she has never shared who they are. The rumor started after Ashley St. Clair, a MAGA influencer, told The New York Times that Musk had a child with a J-pop star, as per reports. Hamasaki said she understands why people think it could be her, even joking that her own mom laughed, saying, 'This seems kind of Ayu-like.' But she firmly denied it, saying she doesn't want her kids to see these rumors online when they grow up, as per Daily Beast report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Musk once texted Ashley that Japanese officials asked him to be a sperm donor for a famous woman. Elon Musk texted Ashley, saying, "They want me to donate sperm. No romance, just sperm." According to the Wall Street Journal report. Musk agreed to donate his sperm to an unnamed woman, according to reports. This led to speculation on social media and J-pop forums about who the J-pop star might be. Hamasaki became the main suspect. She responded, saying, 'If I were someone else, I'd probably think it was me too. But it's just not true.' Hamasaki is Japan's best-selling solo artist, with over 50 million albums sold, and known all over Asia, as mentioned in the report by Daily Beast. Live Events About Musk's kids and relationships Musk has had many children with different women. His first six kids were with his first wife, Justine Wilson. One of those children passed away as a baby. One of Elon Musk's children, Vivian Wilson, is transgender and has publicly spoken out against him. Musk has a 5-year-old son named X with the musician Grimes. He also had two other children with Grimes. In July 2022, around the same time things ended with Grimes, Musk had twins with Shivon Zillis, who works at Neuralink. Musk recently had two kids with Zillis, according to a Daily Beast report. About Ashley St. Clair and the latest baby 'Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father' said Ashley St. Clair on X in February. ' She asked the media to respect their privacy and avoid invasive reporting. Ashley is currently fighting Musk for full custody of their son, Romulus, as per reports In March, Musk posted that he had given Ashley $2.5 million and sends her $500,000 a year, even though he didn't know if the baby was really his. Musk wrote, 'I don't know if the child is mine or not, but I am not against finding out. No court order is needed', as mentioned in the report. But a Labcorp paternity test confirmed with 99.9999% certainty that Musk is the father, as per the report by Wall Street Journal. FAQs Q1. Did Elon Musk have a baby with Ayumi Hamasaki? No, Elon Musk did not have a baby with Ayumi Hamasaki Q2. Why is Musk said to be father of Ayumi Hamasaki kids ? Because a woman claimed Musk is the father of Hamasaki, who is Ayumi Hamasaki's child.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
J-Pop Star Comes Clean on Claims She's Newest Musk Baby Mama
A Japanese performed dubbed the 'Empress of J-Pop' broke her silence Monday on rumors that she is a secret Elon Musk's baby mama. Ayumi Hamasaki denied the theory that she was one of the multiple women with whom Musk had fathered a child after an another baby mama told The New York Times that he had a child with a Japanese pop star. 'I've been keeping an eye on this, and I guess it's time for me to speak up. Elon Musk is not the father of [either of] my children,' Hamasaki wrote on her Instagram Story, according to Tokyo Weekender. Hamasaki, 46, has two sons with two different men, born in 2019 and 2021. The fathers' identities have not been publicly revealed. The rumors around the singer began to spread when MAGA author and influencer Ashley St. Clair—who gave birth to his 13th child, a son, last year—claimed that the billionaire had also told her that he had a child with a J-pop star. Musk has previously claimed that 'civilization is going to crumble' if people did not have children, stating that 'I do have a lot of kids, and I encourage others to have lots of kids.' 'He made it seem like it was just his altruism and he generally believed these people should just have children,' St. Clair said. According to text messages reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Musk texted St. Clair in 2023 about a meeting he had with people he referred to as Japanese officials, saying that they wanted him to be a sperm donor for a high-profile woman. 'They want me to be a sperm donor. No romance or anything, just sperm,' Musk texted St. Clair, later telling her that he agreed to give his sperm to the unnamed woman. As social media users and J-Pop forums began speculating which Japanese star St. Clair could be referring to, Hamasaki quickly became the prime suspect. The singer admitted she could understand why this seemed like the 'sort of thing' she would do. 'Even my mom laughed when she heard the rumors, saying, 'This seems kind of Ayu-like,' and if I were someone else, I'd probably be saying 'Ayu is the pop star [St Clair] was talking about, right?' But it's just not true,' she said on Instagram. 'Setting aside my personal image, when my kids are old enough to start Googling things, I don't want them to run into the rumors and think they're true, so I'm firmly denying them,' the singer added. Hamasaki is the best-selling solo artist in Japan, having sold over 50 million albums. Her influence across Asia has earned her the title the 'Empress of Pop.' Musk's complicated family dynamics have long been in the spotlight. His first six children, the eldest of whom died as a baby, were with first wife Justine Wilson, and include transgender daughter Vivian Wilson, who has become a prominent public critic. He went on to have son X, now five, with Canadian musician Grimes, then two more children during an on-off relationship. But in July 2022, when the relationship with Grimes had apparently recently ended, he had twins with Neuralink executive Shivon Zillis. He then had two more children with Zillis, the latest born this year shortly after his son with St. Clair. On her end, St. Clair is currently in an ongoing custody battle with Musk over their son, Romulus, the MAGA influencer wanting full custody over their child. She officially announced the pair's secret child on X in February, asking for privacy from the media and to 'refrain from invasive reporting.' 'Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father,' she wrote in a statement on X with the caption 'Alea Iacta Est,' meaning 'the die is cast.' In March, Musk also took to his app to claim that he had given St. Clair enough money to take care of their child, despite not knowing whether Romulus was his or not. 'I don't know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed,' he wrote. 'Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year.' According to the Journal, the paternity test results from Labcorp revealed that Musk's 'Probability of Paternity' was 99.9999%.
