Boy Group Idol’s Behavior Lands All His Members In Hot Water 

All eight members of a popular boy group have issued a joint apology following a controversial moment on TV.

Shinozuka Taiki is a member of timelesz (formerly Sexy Zone) an eight-member idol boy group that debuted in 2011 with the song “Sexy Zone”. Taiki is one of the newest members, having joined the group on February 15, 2025.

Recently, 23-year-old Taiki appeared on the November 18 broadcast of Mezamashi TV as a presenter. Near the end of his segment, he performed a controversial gag that hasn’t been well-received. In response, Mezamashi TV apologized for making viewers uncomfortable.

We apologise for making viewers uncomfortable. We will continue working to create a programme that everyone can watch with peace of mind.

— Mezamashi TV’s response to the backlash

On November 21, timelesz also issued an apology, referring to Taiki without mentioning him by name. They addressed the controversy as a group, stating that “one member’s inappropriate behavior” was “careless and lacking in judgment”.  They have promised to take accountability as a group to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. All eight members signed the statement on STARTO Entertainment’s website.

Taiki also released a statement on Instagram,

These past few days, I’ve spent time talking with the other members and reflecting on myself.

Moving forward, I’ll do my best to rebuild trust and approach our activities with sincerity every day.

Shinozuka Taiki

— Shinozuka Taiki’s statement

The J-Pop group’s activities will continue as scheduled.