Fuma Kikuchi Faces Backlash Over New Member Recruitment Auditions Comment Issues Apology to Fans
“Among the candidates, Ruto Iwasaki has been pointed out as possibly being Kikuchi’s ‘favorite’ (okini), leading to many negative comments online about his advancement to the fourth round,” the aforementioned writer noted.
On December 1, Kikuchi updated his blog on the members-only FAMILY CLUB web titled “Setsunaru Tsubuyaki.” Regarding Taipro, he warned, “It’s not acceptable to speak ill of the candidates or other members. Please reconsider how you engage with social media” (original wording preserved).
He also urged fans to stop criticizing the candidates or other members as a way of undermining him, stating, “Please don’t do that.” These words appear to reflect Kikuchi’s determination to take full responsibility as the focal point of the criticism.
Following the controversial episode 06, episode 07 delved into the fourth-round auditions. At the end of the third round, 15 candidates remained, and they embarked on a three-day training camp. Joining them were STARTO’s actors Takuya Teranishi, Daichi Imae, and Yoshitaka Hara.
After the episode’s release, Kikuchi addressed fans’ questions via Instagram Stories. When asked, “Don’t you think your personal biases are influencing the judging too much?” he responded, “If I were allowed to be biased, I’d want everyone to pass—would that be okay? Each candidate truly has their own wonderful charm.”
Regarding the differences in how he addressed candidates—some by last name with “-kun” and others by their first names—he explained it was due to “ease of calling” but also apologized, saying, “If it caused any misunderstandings, I’m sorry.”
He reassured fans, mentioning that he also interacts with the candidates outside of what is shown in the program, saying, “Please rest assured,” and emphasized, “I know I’m being repetitive, but this is about finding companions.”
With the involvement of STARTO’s talents, Taipro is attracting even more viewers. What kind of members will timelesz ultimately choose?
PHOTO： Yusuke Kondo
