A 17-Year-Old Girl Group Idol Got Caught Sneaking Out To A Male Fan’s Hotel Room
A teen idol’s agency took her to court after uncovering details about her private life.
In March of 2013, a Japanese trainee signed a contract with her management company. She joined an unnamed six-member girl group who held their first public performance four months later. They followed a standard idol contract that banned romantic relationships and, as such, the members were prohibited from being in contact with the opposite sex for romantic or sexual purposes.
One member, however, attempted to sneak around behind her agency’s back. She accepted the invitation of a male fan to come with him to his hotel room, something the company somehow found out about.
The agency filed a lawsuit seeking damages for breach of contract. The idol’s lawyers defended her by stating that being in a relationship did not stop her from carrying out her duties as a singer.
Refraining from such relationships is not an absolutely essential part of being an idol.
— J-Pop Idol
On September 18, 2015, Tokyo District Court Judge Akimoto Kojima ruled in favor of the company. He stated that “being discovered to be in a relationship worsened her image as an idol,” and thus affected the sales of the agency.
In order to secure the financial support of male fans, a clause prohibiting relationships was necessary.
— Judge
The J-Pop idol was ordered to pay damages of 650,000 yen (about $4,500 USD) to cover the stage costumes she wore to performances and the music and dance lessons she received as a trainee.
This is not the first time an idol agency has tried to sue their artist for being in a relationship. Read more about it below.
