On August 4, it was revealed that a former member of “Pretty Chuu,” an idol group produced by popular TikTok influencer Yurinya, was involved in underage drinking. A manager who was present during the incident has been formally reprimanded.
Official Apology from Management
The management of Pretty Chuu issued an official statement via X (formerly Twitter), disclosing the details of the incident. According to the statement, it was confirmed that a former member, who has since left the group, consumed alcohol while still underage.
The controversy stems from the fact that a group manager was present at the time but failed to prevent the underage drinking. The management admitted, “It was a serious dereliction of duty for someone in a position of responsibility to overlook such behavior,” and stated that the manager had been strictly warned.
They also clarified that, based on their investigation, no other underage members present at the time were found to have consumed alcohol.
Smoking Allegations Also Addressed
The management also addressed allegations concerning underage smoking by member Chinatsu Saito. They explained, “We have been informed that this occurred before she joined Pretty Chuu. Since the beginning of her activities with the group, there has been no confirmed smoking behavior, including the use of electronic cigarettes.” The statement emphasized that no misconduct had occurred after she became a member.
Scandal Follows Previous Controversy
This incident follows a prior scandal involving the group. On August 1, Yurinya publicly apologized after it was revealed that her partner, Taichi Saito, had impregnated group member Shuna Amamiya. Yurinya acknowledged that the allegations were “mostly true.”
In response to the scandal, Taichi Saito was removed from the management team, and Shuna Amamiya withdrew from the group, as announced on August 2. Yurinya condemned Saito’s actions, stating they were “extremely irresponsible and despicable, both as a person and as a working adult.”
Commitment to Continued Activities
The management issued an apology, saying, “We deeply regret causing concern to the fans who support us.” They also pledged to “review our management system more thoroughly and work to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.”
Despite the recent controversies, the group announced, “Pretty Chuu will continue all scheduled activities, including live performances, as planned.”
