Japanese girl group ME:I has been thrust into controversy after the sudden departure of four members at the same time, a move that has left fans confused, frustrated, and questioning the management of the group.

On December 22, it was officially announced that Cocoro, Ran, Shizuku, and Kokona had terminated their contracts with Lapone Entertainment and withdrawn from ME:I. The announcement offered no detailed explanation for the decision, immediately igniting backlash across social media platforms and fan communities.

Unprecedented Scale of Member Departures

While lineup changes are not uncommon in the idol industry, the simultaneous exit of four members from an 11-member group is highly unusual particularly for a group still in its early career phase.

Fans voiced strong criticism toward Lapone Entertainment, citing the lack of transparency surrounding the decision. Many questioned whether internal management issues, health concerns, or contractual disputes were at play, noting that the company’s brief statement failed to address the root cause of the departures.

A Group Rarely Whole Since Debut

The situation is further complicated by ME:I’s troubled activity timeline. Since the group’s lineup was finalized through PRODUCE 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS, members have frequently been absent due to activity suspensions.

One fan’s widely shared post highlighted a striking statistic: since debut, ME:I’s full 11-member lineup has only been able to perform together for 118 days in total.

Key dates cited include:

  • December 16, 2023: Final lineup confirmed
  • April 17, 2024: Official debut
  • August 3, 2024: Tsuzumi suspends activities
  • March 29, 2025: Cocoro suspends activities
  • July 1, 2025: Ran suspends activities
  • October 15, 2025: Shizuku suspends activities
  • December 22, 2025: Cocoro, Ran, Shizuku, and Kokona leave the group

The timeline intensified criticism that the group has never been given a stable period to build cohesion or fully establish its identity in the market.

Industry Concerns Over Management and Sustainability

From an industry perspective, the mass departure raises serious questions about idol sustainability models, especially for survival-show groups that debut with high expectations but limited structural flexibility.

Analysts note that repeated hiatuses, unclear communication, and abrupt contract terminations can significantly damage fan trust an essential asset in idol-driven business models. Without transparency, speculation fills the gap, often to the detriment of both the group and the agency.

What Comes Next for ME:I

As of now, Lapone Entertainment has not released a follow-up statement clarifying the reasons behind the four members’ exit or outlining ME:I’s future direction as a reduced lineup.

With public sentiment turning increasingly critical, industry watchers emphasize that the company’s next steps particularly how it communicates with fans will be crucial in determining whether ME:I can stabilize and continue forward without long-term reputational damage.

For many fans, however, the damage has already been done.

Sources: Bunshun