On October 4, around 5:30 am, Japanese singer Richard (real name Kusama Richard Keita, born 1996), former boy group Ae! Group, was found partially naked from the waist down near the entrance of a building.
The police were alerted by a witness and the singer was taken to Mita police station. He was released two days later, publicly apologizing for his actions.
Richard was reportedly drunk at the time. The incident sent shockwaves across social media in Asia, prompting his management company, STARTO Entertainment, to suspend him indefinitely from the group’s activities.
On November 28, a Tokyo court sentenced Richard to pay a fine of 100,000 yen for indecent behavior in public. Furthermore, it has been officially removed from Ae! Group. Despite leaving the group, Richard can continue activities as a solo artist under STARTO Entertainment.
The scandal also affected the entire group. Many programs scheduled with Ae! The group, including a key project of a nationally televised variety show, was canceled. A Japanese entertainment industry source commented: “Ae! The group had just started to become known through a major television project. However, the scandal involving Richard dealt a serious blow to the group’s image. Although it was a personal matter, it had a negative impact on all members.”
Richard, who is of Japanese and African American descent, had previously gained attention through various entertainment programs in Japan. Following the incident, his management confirmed that the singer was dealing with mental health issues related to the scandal.
Sources: K14
