Pop Star Shaves Head: Publicity Stunt Or Regretful Apology? [VIDEO]
It's not often you see an adorable pop star shaving her head. So when a YouTube video went viral on Thursday of a Japanese pop star saying she shaved her head to make up for spending the night at a boy's apartment, fans started to question what was going on.
Was Minami Minegishi of AKB48 truly regretful? Or was shaving her head a brilliant marketing stunt?
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"I was supposed to set an example for younger members, but my actions were extremely careless and senseless," she says in an almost four-minute confession. "My mind has gone completely blank. I don't know what I can do or what I should do, but I couldn't bear to do nothing."
AKB48 has garnered a huge cult following for its albums, with 2011 record sales of over 200 million in Japan. The original premise of AKB48 was different than most pop groups. Producer Yasushi Akimoto wanted to create a girl group that would have its own theater and perform daily. The performances became so popular that tickets are now distributed via lottery.
Akimoto also developed an "idols you can meet" strategy. The idea? Hold general elections in which fans can vote for their favorite pop stars in the group. The pop stars who receive the most votes get to participate in the next single. As a result, public opinion and reputation are paramount for the stars.
Now fans are wondering if the pop star shaved her head because of remorse - or whether her producer planned a publicity ploy.
Watch the video below and tell us: Do you think the pop star shaved her head to win fans?