An idol who was arrested on suspicion of public indecency is leaving his group.
On October 4, Aぇ! group‘s Richard (Kusama Richard Keita) was arrested for public indecency, after being seen with his lower body exposed in the early hours of the morning.
The incident, which appears to have taken place outside of a gay bar in Japan, sparked major suspicion. When the news broke, both Japanese and international fans claimed the idol was set up, due to the timing and angle of the photos.
On October 5, Richard was released from custody, and he offered his apologies outside the police station. Richard subsequently went on hiatus, stepping away from group activities.
【速報】「Aぇ！ group」草間リチャード敬太さん釈放#草間リチャード敬太 #Aえgroup pic.twitter.com/8Lul6OHHVJ
— 東スポ 写真映像部 (@tospophoto) October 6, 2025
On November 20, STARTO Entertainment announced that the Tokyo Summary Court fined Richard 100,000 yen (approximately $ 638 USD) for the incident. The agency also confirmed that, after in-depth discussions, it was decided that Richard, who has been struggling with his mental health, would officially leave Aぇ! group. As of November 20, he is no longer a member, but he will continue his solo career under STARTO Entertainment in the future.
Source: STARTO Entertainment and Tonboriday
