The Female Idol Who Had An Affair With Her Group Member’s Brother-In-Law

A past scandal involving former NMB48 members Kinoshita Haruna and Muro Kanako has resurfaced online — and fans are once again stunned by the tangled relationships, explosive accusations, and shocking receipts tied to the case.

Back in 2016, Japanese tabloid Shūkan Bunshun dropped bombshell allegations claiming that then-17-year-old Kinoshita Haruna had been involved in an affair with a prominent company CEO. What made the story even more shocking? That man was reportedly married to the older sister of former NMB48 member Muro Kanako, making the alleged affair a direct hit to someone connected to the group.

Shortly after the tabloid report, an Instagram account believed to belong to Muro’s sister posted a now-viral message seemingly calling out Kinoshita directly, accusing her of having an affair with her husband and even entering the family’s home. The post ignited a firestorm across Japanese communities and international forums alike.

Bunshun also published photos they claimed were of Kinoshita and the CEO walking together late at night, including images reportedly taken near a luxury hotel in Roppongi. With Kinoshita being underage at the time, the alleged nature of the relationship caused immense public uproar.

As rumors spiraled, fans debated whether Kinoshita could continue her idol activities. Industry watchers said she was backed into a corner, and within months, Kinoshita officially graduated from NMB48 later that same year.

Meanwhile, Muro Kanako did not publicly comment, but the explosive allegations involving her family kept the story alive for weeks. At the time, the agency did not release a detailed explanation, leaving many questions unanswered. Shockingly, Kinoshita eventually married the CEO in 2018, having his son in 2019. They have since allegedly gotten divorced.