AKB48 Fires Mei Hanada in Historic Shaved-Head Scandal

Management for the idol group AKB48 has officially terminated the contract of 21-year-old member Mei "Meimei" Hanada due to an unauthorized relationship with a fan. Hanada, who became a full member in December 2025, had been on hiatus since May following mental health struggles that led to chronic lateness.

While Hanada claimed her encounters with the fan during her leave were merely accidental, management's investigation revealed frequent, deliberate meetings. Although Hanada wished to return to the group, negotiations collapsed over her steep demands: she insisted management lift the ban on the fan in question, punish peers who gossiped about her, and communicate solely through her legal counsel.

Following her dismissal, Hanada posted a nine-minute apology video on X sporting a shaved head. In it, she alleged management ordered the haircut, a claim they strongly deny.

This historic dismissal marks the first time AKB48 has directly fired a member; past scandals usually resulted in demotions, sister-group transfers, or forced early "graduations." The shocking situation mirrors Minami Minegishi’s infamous 2013 head-shaving incident.