17-Year-Old Idol Apologizes For Old School Photos, Sparking Outrage
A 17-year-old idol has become the third member of her group to be caught up in controversy in a single week.
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Wakaba Noa is a member of the Japanese idol girl group iLiFE! and HEROINES (a supergroup that includes multiple groups under its umbrella, including iLiFE!). She joined both groups on September 12, 2023, when she was 15 years old.
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Recently, an old photo of Noa and an unidentified person, rumored to be her boyfriend, circulated online. It was reportedly taken before Noa joined iLiFE!, when she was in her second year of junior high school. Noa promptly addressed the matter, confirmed that she and the person in the photo had dated before she debuted. She ended her relationship to pursue her idol career.
The photo currently being shared is from when I was in my second year of junior high. At that time, I parted ways with him because I wanted to pursue being an idol. Since then, we have not met. There were a few times we exchanged messages as friends, but there were no romantic feelings involved.
— Wakaba Noa
She also explained that she had recently contacted him out of respect, not for any romantic reasons, because her dating life had been mentioned during her recent livestream. Noa went on to assure fans that she has never dated since becoming an idol.
この度はみなさんにご心配をお掛けしてしまい大変申し訳ございません。
現在、拡散されている写真は中学2年生の時の写真になります。
アイドルになるためにお別れし、それ以降一度も会っていませんでした。長い期間、連絡もとっていませんでしたが友人として数回、連絡をとったことは事実です。…— 若葉のあ【iLiFE!】 (@iLiFE_wakaba) August 31, 2025
Regarding the phone call, I reached out to explain and apologize because the topic came up during a livestream, causing inconvenience.
Since becoming an idol, I have never been in a relationship. This is something I can say with pride. I joined iLiFE! with that determination, and for nearly two years I’ve devoted myself seriously to my activities. I hope you can believe in the fact that I’ve always approached this role sincerely.
That said, I understand that this situation may have caused anxiety for some people. Moving forward, I will be even more diligent and hard working, so I kindly ask for your continued support. Once again, I deeply apologize for causing so much concern.
— Wakaba Noa
In response, fans have defended Noa while criticizing dating bans for idols and the agencies that still enforce them.
She can go out with whoever she wants, it’s her private life, we don’t care and we have no say in the matter
— Astna 🇩🇿 (@AstnaVS) September 1, 2025
iLiFE! management (Imaginate) should realize that love bans only create problems. Groups like Kawaii Lab and Sashihara Group prove you don’t need them.
— Jhay eL(ジェイ) (@jhay_el48) September 2, 2025
Love ban it’s so outdated, multiple groups like akb48, sashihara groups or kawaii labs do not use this rule anymore or they really don’t care
— BigC 🍃 Always with our FIMILY🔥🔥 (@zuharasic) September 2, 2025
Recently, fans also came to the defense of two other iLiFE! members: one was demoted from her position as leader after a video of her with a man went viral, and the other was fired for breaking the agency’s no dating rule.
Idol Gets Kicked Out Of Her Girl Group After Leaked Photos Expose Her Personal Life
