Fans’ Jealousy and Harassment Toward ME:I

ME:I’s agency warns against slander

LAPONE Entertainment, which manages ultra-popular boy groups like JO1, INI, and DXTEEN, is currently riding a wave of success.

The leading agency in the boy band scene had previously been the former Johnny’s agency (now STARTO ENTERTAINMENT). However, following issues surrounding sexual misconduct, its momentum significantly slowed. In this fiercely competitive field, LAPONE Entertainment emerged by using a new method of public auditions to form groups. Indeed, their first boy group, JO1, has performed at the Kohaku Uta Gassen for three consecutive years. INI, which recently marked its third anniversary, achieved a million in single sales last year, showing immense growth in popularity.

However, despite this success, there is an unsettling mood brewing behind the scenes. LAPONE Entertainment’s subsidiary, LAPONE GIRLS, issued a strong warning on January 30, stating that they would take legal action against harassment directed at their artists. The girl group ‘ME:I,’ which is extremely popular among young women, has been a target of repeated online abuse regarding the members’ appearances and statements since their debut.

“ME:I, like JO1 and INI, is made up of members chosen through a public audition, and they were a hot topic even before their debut. Since debuting in April of last year, they have gained immense popularity, even earning a spot on the Kohaku Uta Gassen that year. However, with that popularity comes jealousy.” (An idol industry expert)

According to the agency, harassment, including stalking and repeated online abuse and threats, has reached an extreme level.

It appears that the fans of senior groups JO1 and INI are the ones causing the harassment. Why has this situation occurred? A female entertainment industry writer offers the following analysis:

“While it may seem like an exaggerated logic, fans seem overly concerned that a romantic connection might develop between the male and female members, given that ME:I is the first girl group from the same agency. There is even speculation that the members of ME:I joined the group because they were originally fans of JO1 or INI.

Furthermore, this year, LAPONE held an event called ‘LAPOSTA’ where they rented out Tokyo Dome for three days for a joint concert by all their artists. While this event boosted LAPONE’s momentum, it also meant that male and female members performed and interacted on the same stage, which may have fueled even more jealousy among fans.”

 

Fan jealousy is common among offices with male and female groups

So, what is the reality of the situation? It seems that the concerns are entirely unfounded.

“Honestly, there’s almost no interaction between them. The male members themselves have been taken aback by the harassment, saying, ‘We haven’t even spoken, let alone interacted.'” (A staff member from a production company)

However, upon reflection, this could be seen as a fate of agencies with both male and female groups. An editor knowledgeable in the music industry offered the following comment:

“For example, ‘AAA,’ which debuted under Avex in 2005, was a rare mixed-gender group. They all had high-level dance skills, charisma, and were a very good group. But they too were troubled by jealousy. Some overly enthusiastic fans seemed to believe that when young men and women are gathered, something must develop between them.

When you think about it, the highly popular former Johnny’s groups never had female members or managers. Perhaps they understood that fan jealousy could become a brake on their momentum.”

Perhaps the key to dominating the idol industry is overcoming jealousy. It will be interesting to watch how LAPONE handles this moving forward.

 

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